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Apoptosis in leukoaraiosis lesions
William R Brown1, Dixon M Moody, Venkata R Challa
1Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. wibrown@wfubmc.edu
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|November 6, 2002
Summary
Leukoaraiosis (LA) involves white matter degeneration. This study found evidence of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in LA lesions, suggesting progressive cell loss in the aging brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Neuroimaging
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Leukoaraiosis (LA) is an age-related white matter condition often linked to chronic ischemia.
- LA lesions exhibit demyelination, glial cell loss, and vascular changes, but necrosis is not evident.
Observation:
- The study examined autopsy brain slices from two patients with LA using MRI and histological staining.
- TUNEL staining was employed to detect DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis.
Findings:
- TUNEL-positive cells, indicating apoptosis, were significantly more numerous in LA lesions compared to unaffected white matter in both patients.
- Apoptotic cells were also observed in the cortex and blood vessel walls.
- Increased venous collagenosis correlated with LA lesion severity near the cortex.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that apoptosis contributes to cell death in LA lesions.
- This programmed cell death may drive progressive white matter damage and lesion expansion.
- Understanding the role of apoptosis in LA could inform future therapeutic strategies for age-related white matter diseases.