A human granin-like neuroendocrine peptide precursor (proSAAS) immunoreactivity in tau inclusions of Alzheimer's disease and parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam

Neurosci Lett. 2004 Feb 6;356(1):49-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.11.028.

Abstract

The deposition of tau inclusions is one of the neuropathological hallmarks in neurodegenerative disorders with dementia. We have reported that the N-terminal fragment of a human granin-like neuroendocrine peptide precursor (N-proSAAS) is accumulated in Pick bodies. However, it is unknown whether N-proSAAS is widely accumulated in tau inclusions in other tauopathies. Here, we performed an immunohistochemical examination using antibodies against both the N- and C-terminal sequence of proSAAS in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and parkinsonism-dementia complex on Guam. The antibody against N-proSAAS immunostained neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques in both diseases, whereas the antibody against the C-terminal sequence of proSAAS did not. The results of the present study suggest that N-proSAAS or proSAAS-like molecules were trapped within the tau fibrils and accumulated in tau inclusions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Animals
  • Dementia / metabolism*
  • Dementia / pathology
  • Female
  • Guam
  • Hippocampus / chemistry
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inclusion Bodies / chemistry
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropeptides / analysis*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / metabolism*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / analysis*
  • Rats
  • tau Proteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Neuropeptides
  • PCSK1N protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Precursors
  • tau Proteins