Protein from Colonic Tissue Associated with Parkinson's
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 29 May 2012 |
Two studies suggest that colonic tissue obtained during either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to predict who will develop Parkinson’s disease.
A protein called alpha-synuclein is deposited in cells of the brain of patients with Parkinson’s disease and is considered a pathologic hallmark of the disorder. These protein aggregates form Lewy bodies, a characteristic structure seen in Parkinson's disease brains at autopsy.
Physicians at Rush University (Chicago, IL, USA) demonstrated that the alpha-synuclein protein could also be seen in the nerve cells in the wall of the intestines in subjects with early Parkinson’s disease, but not in healthy subjects. Ten subjects with early Parkinson’s disease had flexible sigmoidoscopy. The scientists demonstrated alpha-synuclein aggregation in biological tissue obtained before onset of motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The studies were conducted by Dr. Kathleen M. Shannon, neurologist in the Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Center at Rush, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the university. They also analyzed samples of tissue obtained during colonoscopy examinations that took place 2-5 years before the first symptom of Parkinson’s disease appeared in three subjects, and all three showed the characteristic protein in the wall of the lower intestine.
The studies were published the May 15, 2012, issue of the journal Movement Disorders.
Currently, Parkinson’s disease afflicts almost 5 million people worldwide. A neurodegenerative disorder of aging, it leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential to executing movement.
“Recent clinical and pathological evidence supports the notion that Parkinson’s disease may begin in the intestinal wall then spread through the nerves to the brain. Clinical signs of intestinal disease, such as constipation, [may precede] Parkinson’s disease diagnosis by more than a decade. These studies suggest it may one day be possible to use colonic tissue biopsy to predict who will develop motor Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Shannon.
“Such tissue could be obtained at the time of screening colonoscopy, a procedure routinely applied for colon cancer surveillance beginning at age 50 and repeated every three to 10 years in adults of middle age,” Dr. Shannon added.
Alternatively, the Rush investigators showed that colonic tissue is easily obtained using flexible sigmoidoscopy, a technique that, unlike colonoscopy, requires no colon cleansing preparation or sedation, and can be performed in 10 minutes.
“In view of a multibillion-dollar translational research effort that aims to identify agents that slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, the need for accurate and timely diagnostic biomarkers, including the potential for premotor diagnosis, is particularly acute,” the authors stated. “We believe that alpha-synuclein in the colonic submucosa may be a premotor biomarker that easily can be studied in cohorts at increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The Rush scientists stressed that their finding must be replicated in other populations, including other neurodegenerative Parkinson’s-like disorders, and to determine the safest and highest-yield biomarker site.
Related Links:
Rush University
A protein called alpha-synuclein is deposited in cells of the brain of patients with Parkinson’s disease and is considered a pathologic hallmark of the disorder. These protein aggregates form Lewy bodies, a characteristic structure seen in Parkinson's disease brains at autopsy.
Physicians at Rush University (Chicago, IL, USA) demonstrated that the alpha-synuclein protein could also be seen in the nerve cells in the wall of the intestines in subjects with early Parkinson’s disease, but not in healthy subjects. Ten subjects with early Parkinson’s disease had flexible sigmoidoscopy. The scientists demonstrated alpha-synuclein aggregation in biological tissue obtained before onset of motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The studies were conducted by Dr. Kathleen M. Shannon, neurologist in the Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Center at Rush, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the university. They also analyzed samples of tissue obtained during colonoscopy examinations that took place 2-5 years before the first symptom of Parkinson’s disease appeared in three subjects, and all three showed the characteristic protein in the wall of the lower intestine.
The studies were published the May 15, 2012, issue of the journal Movement Disorders.
Currently, Parkinson’s disease afflicts almost 5 million people worldwide. A neurodegenerative disorder of aging, it leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential to executing movement.
“Recent clinical and pathological evidence supports the notion that Parkinson’s disease may begin in the intestinal wall then spread through the nerves to the brain. Clinical signs of intestinal disease, such as constipation, [may precede] Parkinson’s disease diagnosis by more than a decade. These studies suggest it may one day be possible to use colonic tissue biopsy to predict who will develop motor Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Shannon.
“Such tissue could be obtained at the time of screening colonoscopy, a procedure routinely applied for colon cancer surveillance beginning at age 50 and repeated every three to 10 years in adults of middle age,” Dr. Shannon added.
Alternatively, the Rush investigators showed that colonic tissue is easily obtained using flexible sigmoidoscopy, a technique that, unlike colonoscopy, requires no colon cleansing preparation or sedation, and can be performed in 10 minutes.
“In view of a multibillion-dollar translational research effort that aims to identify agents that slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, the need for accurate and timely diagnostic biomarkers, including the potential for premotor diagnosis, is particularly acute,” the authors stated. “We believe that alpha-synuclein in the colonic submucosa may be a premotor biomarker that easily can be studied in cohorts at increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The Rush scientists stressed that their finding must be replicated in other populations, including other neurodegenerative Parkinson’s-like disorders, and to determine the safest and highest-yield biomarker site.
Related Links:
Rush University
Latest Pathology News
- AI Performs Virtual Tissue Staining at Super-Resolution
- AI-Driven Preliminary Testing for Pancreatic Cancer Enhances Prognosis
- Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response
- Clinical AI Solution for Automatic Breast Cancer Grading Improves Diagnostic Accuracy
- Saliva-Based Testing to Enable Early Detection of Cancer, Heart Disease or Parkinson’s
- Advances in Monkeypox Virus Diagnostics to Improve Management of Future Outbreaks
- Nanoneedle-Studded Patch Could Eliminate Painful and Invasive Biopsies
- AI Cancer Classification Tool to Drive Targeted Treatments
- AI-Powered Imaging Enables Faster Lung Disease Treatment
- New Laboratory Method Speeds Diagnosis of Rare Genetic Disease
- New Technology Autonomously Detects AI Hallucinations in Digital Pathology
- Novel Algorithm Rapidly Identifies Cell Types to Improve Cancer Diagnosis
- AI Method Speeds Up Cancer Tracking Using Blood Tests
- New AI Tool Improves Blood Cancer Diagnosis
- Novel Platform Technology Predicts Diseases by Early Detection of Aging Signals in Liver Tissue
- AI Model Detects More Than 170 Cancer Types
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Designed to Meet Growing Demands of Modern Labs
A new clinical chemistry analyzer is designed to provide outstanding performance and maximum efficiency, without compromising affordability, to meet the growing demands of modern laboratories.... Read more
New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of infectious diseases. These tests are generally known for their high sensitivity and specificity, and they can be developed... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
RNA-Seq Based Diagnostic Test Enhances Diagnostic Accuracy of Pediatric Leukemia
A new unique test is set to reshape the way Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL) samples can be analyzed. Qlucore (Lund, Sweden) has launched the first CE-marked RNA-seq based diagnostic test for pediatric... Read more
New Technique for Measuring Acidic Glycan in Blood Simplifies Schizophrenia Diagnosis
Polysialic acid is a unique acidic glycan predominantly found in brain regions associated with memory and emotion, but it is also present in the bloodstream. Research has shown that blood levels of polysialic... Read moreHematology
view channel
Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more
First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes
Heparin dosing requires careful management to avoid both bleeding and clotting complications. In high-risk situations like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mortality rates can reach about 50%,... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients
Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more
Liquid Biopsy Approach to Transform Diagnosis, Monitoring and Treatment of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer continues to be a major contributor to cancer-related deaths globally, with its biological complexity and diverse regulatory processes making diagnosis and treatment particularly difficult.... Read more
Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance
Structural changes in tumor DNA are among the most damaging genetic alterations in cancer, yet they often go undetected, particularly when tissue samples are degraded or of low quality. These hidden genomic... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Viral Load Tests Can Help Predict Mpox Severity
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash, which evolves significantly over time and varies between patients. The disease spreads mainly through direct contact with... Read more
Gut Microbiota Analysis Enables Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder marked by abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, typically emerging in the mid to late stages. It significantly heightens the risk of... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Inexpensive DNA Coated Electrode Paves Way for Disposable Diagnostics
Many people around the world still lack access to affordable, easy-to-use diagnostics for diseases like cancer, HIV, and influenza. Conventional sensors, while accurate, often rely on expensive equipment... Read more
New Miniature Device to Transform Testing of Blood Cancer Treatments
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment for blood cancers like leukemia, offering hope to patients when other treatments fail. However, despite its promise,... Read moreIndustry
view channel
Lunit and Microsoft Collaborate to Advance AI-Driven Cancer Diagnosis
Lunit (Seoul, South Korea) and Microsoft (Redmond, WA, USA) have entered into a collaboration to accelerate the delivery of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered healthcare solutions. In conjunction with... Read more