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Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay
Published on: June 25, 2019
Distinctive distribution of phospho-alpha-synuclein in dermal nerves in multiple system atrophy
Kathrin Doppler1, Jessica Weis1, Katharina Karl1
1Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Background:
MSA is characterized by deposition of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) in oligodendrocytes and central nervous system (CNS) neurons. After recently detecting phospho-α-Syn (p-α-Syn) in dermal nerve fibers of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), we assessed skin biopsies from patients with MSA to evaluate its potential role as a biomarker.
Methods:
Skin biopsies of patients with MSA (n = 12), idiopathic PD (n = 30), tauopathies (n = 15), and normal controls (n = 39) were analyzed. P-α-Syn within dermal nerves was detected by immunofluorescence staining.
Results:
p-α-Syn was found in 67% of patients with MSA and Parkinson's disease, but not in patients with tauopathy or controls when analyzing 15 consecutive sections. Sensitivity could be increased to 75% and 73%, respectively, by analyzing serial sections. In contrast to PD, where p-α-Syn clustered in autonomic fibers, deposits were mainly found in unmyelinated somatosensory fibers in MSA.
Conclusion:
α-Syn pathology in MSA is not restricted to the CNS, and skin biopsy may be useful for the premortem study of p-α-Syn.
