Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Session Title: Parkinson's Disease: Pathophysiology
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: The S4 study aims to characterize the distribution of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) pathology in multiple tissues and body fluids within the same Parkinson’s disease (PD) subjects and healthy controls (HC). We herein report the feasibility and safety data from this study.
Background: PD is pathologically characterized by the presence of aSyn aggregates in the subcortical regions of the brain. Recent studies demonstrate that aSyn pathology is also abundant in peripherally innervated tissues, which could be a source of peripheral biomarker. Studies of both tissue and biofluids together in one and the same subjects have thus far used relatively small sample sizes, varied methodologies and have largely been from single centers. The S4 study evaluates aSyn species in multiple tissues and biofluids within the same subject at a single time point, with blinded evaluation by multiple experts.
Methods: S4 is a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research sponsored multi-center, cross-sectional, observational study evaluating aSyn pathology in multiple tissues and biofluids in individual subjects. The enrollment of 60 PD subjects (20 early drug-naïve, 20 moderate without motor fluctuations, 20 advanced with motor fluctuations) and 20 HCs is on-going. Clinical assessments include MDS-UPDRS, MOCA, UPSIT and dopamine transporter SPECT. Biopsies of the skin, sigmoid colon submucosa, and submandibular gland are obtained. Biofluids collected include cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), saliva, and blood. Acquisition of all specimens occurs within 120 days of screening. Patients are contacted by telephone within 10 days of procedures for safety assessments.
Results: As of January 3, 2017, 6 sites have enrolled 13 HC and 46 PD (11 early, 19 moderate and 16 advanced stage) participants. 42 have completed all study procedures.
Conclusions: Multisite tissue and biofluid sampling for aSyn is feasible and generally safe.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Linder, B. Mollenhauer, C. Coffey, T. Beach, T. Foroud, C. Adler, H. Riss, D. Ecklund, C. Caspell-Garcia, K. Dave, S. Deshpande, S. Lasch, V. Arnedo, L. Riley, C. Kopil, D. Jennings, L. Chahine. Feasibility and Safety of Multisite Tissue and Biofluid Sampling for Alpha-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease: The Systemic Synuclein Sampling Study (S4) [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-safety-of-multisite-tissue-and-biofluid-sampling-for-alpha-synuclein-in-parkinsons-disease-the-systemic-synuclein-sampling-study-s4/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-safety-of-multisite-tissue-and-biofluid-sampling-for-alpha-synuclein-in-parkinsons-disease-the-systemic-synuclein-sampling-study-s4/