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Updated: May 7, 2026
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Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay
Published on: June 25, 2019
α-Synuclein in cutaneous autonomic nerves.
Ningshan Wang1, Christopher H Gibbons, Jacob Lafo
1From the Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Neurology
|October 4, 2013
Summary
Researchers identified alpha-synuclein deposition in skin nerves as a potential biomarker for Parkinson disease (PD). Increased deposition in autonomic nerves correlates with disease severity and autonomic dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Dermatology
Background:
- Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor function.
- Current diagnostic methods for PD can be invasive or lack sensitivity.
- Cutaneous innervation changes and alpha-synuclein pathology are implicated in PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alpha-synuclein deposition in skin biopsies as a potential biomarker for Parkinson disease.
- To correlate cutaneous alpha-synuclein levels with clinical and autonomic function measures in PD patients.
Main Methods:
- Skin biopsies were obtained from the legs and thighs of 20 PD patients and 14 controls.
- Alpha-synuclein deposition and nerve fiber density were quantified in intraepidermal, sudomotor, and pilomotor nerves.
- The alpha-synuclein ratio (deposition normalized to nerve fiber density) was calculated and compared with clinical scores and autonomic function tests.
Main Results:
- PD patients exhibited significant loss of intraepidermal and pilomotor nerve fibers compared to controls.
- Increased alpha-synuclein deposition and higher alpha-synuclein ratios were observed in pilomotor and sudomotor nerves of PD patients.
- Higher alpha-synuclein ratios correlated with more severe PD (Hoehn and Yahr scores) and impaired sympathetic and parasympathetic function.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous autonomic nerve fibers, specifically sympathetic adrenergic and cholinergic, show increased alpha-synuclein deposition in Parkinson disease.
- The degree of alpha-synuclein deposition in skin autonomic nerves is associated with autonomic dysfunction and PD progression.
- Measuring alpha-synuclein deposition in cutaneous autonomic nerves represents a promising, minimally invasive biomarker for Parkinson disease diagnosis and monitoring.
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