New dementia immunology study findings recently were published by researchers at University of British Columbia
December 22nd, 2008
2008 DEC 22 -- A new study, 'Colocalization of transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43 and huntingtin in inclusions of Huntington disease,' is now available. "Transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a component of pathological inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and several forms of sporadic and familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43-immunostained inclusions have also been found in other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and parkinsonism dementia complex of Guam," scientists in Vancouver, Canada report.
"Here, we analyzed the occurrence of TDP-43 immunostaining in Huntington disease, which is characterized by inclusions containing mutated huntingtin. In all Huntington disease cases studied, TDP-43 was frequently colocalized with huntingtin in dystrophic neurites and various intracellular inclusions, but not in intranuclear inclusions; the latter were only stained with huntingtin and anti-ubiquitin antibodies. Two phosphorylation-dependent TDP-43 antibodies proved to be superior for detecting pathological inclusions because they did not stain nonphosphorylated TDP-43 in normal nuclei; staining of normal nuclei with phosphorylation-independent antibodies obscured the inclusions," wrote C. Schwab and colleagues, University of British Columbia.
The researchers concluded: "Our results further add to the hypothesis that TDP-43 may be involved in the pathology of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders."
Schwab and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology (Colocalization of transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43 and huntingtin in inclusions of Huntington disease. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 2008;67(12):1159-65).
For additional information, contact C. Schwab, University of British Columbia, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology is: American Assn Neuropathologists Inc., 1041 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS 66044, USA.
This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
