Wednesday, January 15, 2025
News

Study discovers how new blood serum test detect neurodegenerative disorder

   SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

Tokyo | May 29, 2023 11:10:58 PM IST
Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative disorders caused by an aberrant accumulation of a-synuclein, a protein present in the brain and neurons. Incorrect a-synuclein folding results in the production of'seeds,' which attract more a-synuclein proteins to build larger clumps. Although a-synuclein seeds have been discovered in numerous tissues and blood of patients suffering from synucleinopathies, their value as a biomarker is unclear.

Recently, in a study published in Nature Medicine, Associate Professor Ayami Okuzumi along with Senior Associate Professor Taku Hatano, both from the Juntendo University School of Medicine, Senior Assistant Professor Gen Matsumoto at the Nagasaki University School of Medicine, and Professor Nobutaka Hattori from Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine /RIKEN Center for Brain Science, present a novel assay that can efficiently detect a-synuclein seeds from a patient's serum.

In this assay, named immunoprecipitation-based real-time quaking-induced conversion (IP/RT-QuIC), the a-synuclein seeds are isolated from the patient's serum through immunoprecipitation (protein separation using an antibody binding only to the target protein) followed by rapid amplification by real-time quaking-induced conversion (amplification induced by vigorous shaking). This method is highly sensitive, as it can detect serum a-synuclein seed concentrations as small as 1000pg/ml. This comes as great news since most existing diagnostic methods require cerebrospinal fluid for synuclein detection. The current study was made available/published on May 30, 2023.

Sharing the objective of their study, Professor Hattori and his team explains, "In this study, we validated the usefulness of our novel assay system, IP/RT-QuIC, as a diagnostic marker of synucleinopathies. We propose that the fibril morphology of serum a-synuclein seeds and aggregates derived by IP/RT-QuIC can discriminate between Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA)."

The research team demonstrated that IP/RT-QuIC detected a-synuclein seeds efficiently in patients with neurodegenerative diseases and could distinguish them from people without degenerative diseases (controls). Next, they studied the structural properties of the amplified seeds using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). They observed that the synuclein seed structure varied with the type of synucleinopathy. PD and DLB seeds showed paired filaments whereas MSA seeds had two distinct structures - twisted and straight filaments. This finding was confirmed that IP/RT-QuIC coupled with TEM can differentiate between synucleinopathies based on disease specific seed structure.

Further, when the researchers transduced amplified seeds into the HEK293T cell line stably expressing GFP-fused human a-synuclein with p.A53T mutation (in vitro) and injected seeds into mouse brains (in vivo), the seeds retained their aggregate forming capacity and diseases-specific seed structure. These aggregates displayed different morphologies depending on the disease type. Thus, specific synucleinopathies can be diagnosed by IP/RT-QuIC from the structural differences of the a-synuclein seeds and their aggregates.

This technique could help provide a quick and efficient diagnosis to patients. Professor Hattori and his team explains, "At present, a neurologist's consultation is necessary to diagnose synucleinopathies. However, using IP/RTQuIC, a general internist can make the diagnosis. Therefore, more patients with synucleinopathies may be diagnosed with precision and could receive appropriate treatment at an earlier stage."

The authors conclude with their future vision, "Our new IP/RT-QuIC assay may have many future applications as a biomarker for precise diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in clinical trials. This simple diagnostic method will enable establishment of personalized therapy options for synucleinopathies." (ANI)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS (0)
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
 
MORE HEALTH NEWS
Bioengineers found breakthrough in build...
Fibre in diet may boost the body against...
Research discovers new skeletal tissue w...
Revolutionizing Hip Replacement Surgery:...
Mrs. Neerja Birla Initiative Mpower Stre...
Gujarat health minister issues advisory ...
More...
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
UP CM Yogi, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav exte...
'Upar wala bachayega,' says Arvind Kejri...
Delhi wakes up with dense fog, air quali...
Don't fall for empty promises, cast vote...
Karnataka Minister Zameer Khan gifts thr...
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Rupendra Prakash ...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
In near to medium term Hybrid auto ... 
BJP will form govt, end 10-year ecl... 
Beyonce postpones mystery announcem... 
Pakistan: Imran Khan and his wife f... 
Hilary Duff offers shelter to Mandy... 
BJP MLA candidate Ramesh Bidhuri fi... 
Mandhana shatters records as India ... 
Naomi Osaka rallies past Muchova to...