Immunoreactivity of a G protein-coupled l-DOPA receptor GPR143, in Lewy bodies

l-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) has been believed to be an inert amino acid precursor of dopamine, and is the most effective therapeutic agent in Parkinson's disease (PD). We proposed l-DOPA as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Recently, the ocular albinism 1 gene product, OA1/GPR143 (GPR143), was identified as a receptor for l-DOPA. In this study, we examined by generating anti-human GPR143 antibody, the localization of GPR143-immunoreactive signals in the brains from control and PD subjects. GPR143-immunoreactive signals were detected throughout the entire midbrain including substantia nigra pars compacta. In the PD brains, we found that GPR143-immunoreactive signals were detected in Lewy bodies and were colocalized with immunoreactive signals with anti-human Ser129 phosphorylated α-synuclein antibody. Although the significance of its occurrence in the inclusion bodies is unknown, our finding suggests possible implications of GPR143 in PD.