Objective: We aimed to investigate the utility of alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) immunoreactivity from gastric and colonic mucosal tissues obtained by routine endoscopy to detect Parkinson’s disease (PD), and to correlate the pathological burden of α-SYN with motor and nonmotor features of PD.

Background: Gastric and colonic α-SYN immunoreactivity has been reported in patients with PD. However, enteric α-SYN has also been reported in healthy individuals.

Methods: We recruited 104 study subjects, consisting of 38 PD patients, 13 probable multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients, and 53 controls. Gastric and colonic mucosal tissues obtained by endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were assessed using α-SYN immunohistochemistry. Detailed motor and nonmotor features of PD were correlated with enteric α-SYN immunoreactivity.

Results: There was no difference in the enteric α-SYN immunoreactivity among PD patients (31.6% for stomach and 10.4% for colon), MSA patients (40.0% for stomach and 8.0% for colon), and controls (33.3% for stomach and 18.5% for colon). The frequency of positive α-SYN immunoreactivity was higher in gastric biopsy tissues than in colonic biopsy tissues in all of study groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the presence of α-SYN immunoreactivity and the motor and nonmotor features of PD.

Conclusions: The presence of α-SYN immunoreactivity in gastric and colonic mucosa was detected in a similar manner in PD patients, MSA patients, and controls, and thus suggesting the limited role of enteric mucosal α-SYN as a diagnostic biomarker for PD. Future studies are warranted to detect pathological α-SYN strains.

This study has been accepted recently (07-Oct-2015) for publication in Movement Disorders. This study has not been presented in other Academic Meetings.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/alpha-synuclein-in-gastric-and-colonic-mucosa-in-parkinsons-disease-limited-role-as-a-biomarker/