Abstract
α-synuclein is thought to play a key role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) because it is the major protein in Lewy bodies, and because its gene mutations, duplication, and triplication are associated with early-onset PD. There are conflicting reports as to whether serum and plasma concentrations of α-synuclein and anti-α-synuclein antibodies differ between PD and control subjects. The objectives of this study were to compare the levels of α-synuclein and its antibodies between individuals with typical PD (n = 14), atypical Parkinson syndromes (n = 11), idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (n = 10), and healthy controls (n = 9), to assess the strength of association between these serum proteins, and to determine group sizes needed for a high probability (80% power) of detecting statistical significance for 25% or 50% differences between typical PD and control subjects for these measurements. Analysis of log-transformed data found no statistically significant differences between groups for either α-synuclein or its antibodies. The concentrations of these proteins were weakly correlated (Spearman rho = 0.16). In subjects with typical PD and atypical Parkinson syndromes, anti-α-synuclein antibody levels above 1.5 µg/ml were detected only in subjects with no more than four years of clinical disease. Power analysis indicated that 236 and 73 samples per group would be required for an 80% probability that 25% and 50% differences, respectively, in mean α-synuclein levels between typical PD and control subjects would be statistically significant; for anti-α-synuclein antibodies, 283 and 87 samples per group would be required. Our findings are consistent with those previous studies which suggested that serum concentrations of α-synuclein and its antibodies are not significantly altered in PD.
Highlights
ObjectivesThe objectives of the study were (1) to compare the concentrations of serum a-synuclein and anti-a-synuclein antibodies between subjects with typical Parkinson’s disease (PD), atypical Parkinson syndromes (APS), individuals with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and healthy controls, (2) to measure the association between the serum levels of a-synuclein and its antibodies, and (3) to determine approximate group sizes that
This study found no evidence for differences in the concentrations of serum a-synuclein or anti-a-synuclein antibodies between typical and atypical Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, individuals with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and healthy controls, and no evidence of a relationship was noted between these protein levels and PD disability ratings
The lack of alterations in a-synuclein levels between PD patients and controls in this study agrees with earlier reports by Shi et al [15], Mollenhauer et al [19], Foulds et al [20] and Park et al [21], but disagrees with studies by Lee et al [16] and Duran et al [18], both of whom found increased a-synuclein concentrations in PD, and Li et al [17], who found decreased levels
Summary
The objectives of the study were (1) to compare the concentrations of serum a-synuclein and anti-a-synuclein antibodies between subjects with typical PD, atypical Parkinson syndromes (APS), individuals with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and healthy controls, (2) to measure the association between the serum levels of a-synuclein and its antibodies, and (3) to determine approximate group sizes that
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