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Mapping Alzheimer's Disease Variants to Their Target Genes Using Computational Analysis of Chromatin Configuration
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Ectopic expression of Musashi-1 in Alzheimer disease and Pick disease

Mark A Lovell1, William R Markesbery

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. malove2@uky.edu

Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
|August 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Musashi-1 (Msi-1) protein accumulates in brain cells with neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer disease and Pick bodies in Pick disease. This suggests Msi-1 may contribute to the development of these neurodegenerative disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease (AD) and Pick disease (PD) are characterized by abnormal protein accumulations in cytoplasmic inclusions.
  • Musashi-1 (Msi-1), an RNA-binding protein, is linked to neural progenitor cells and has been implicated in tau protein accumulation in other neurodegenerative conditions.

Observation:

  • This study investigated Msi-1 expression in the hippocampus of AD, PD, and aged control subjects using immunohistochemistry.
  • Adjacent serial sections were stained for neurofibrillary tangles (modified Bielschowsky method) and Msi-1.

Findings:

  • Msi-1 was detected in 83% of neurofibrillary tangle-bearing neurons in AD and 94% of Pick bodies in PD specimens.
  • Aged control hippocampi showed minimal Msi-1 immunostaining.

Implications:

  • The presence of Msi-1 in neurons with cytoplasmic inclusions in AD and PD suggests a potential role in the pathogenesis of these lesions.
  • Further research into Msi-1's function may reveal new therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

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