Dementia with lewy bodies: GBA1 mutations are associated with cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein profile

Mov Disord. 2019 Jul;34(7):1069-1073. doi: 10.1002/mds.27731. Epub 2019 Jun 12.

Abstract

Background: Patients with dementia with Lewy bodies reveal a variable pathology including alpha-synuclein, amyloid-beta, and Tau. Mutations in GBA1 are specifically associated with synucleinopathies. PD patients with GBA1 mutations show reduced CSF levels of total alpha-synuclein.

Objective: Whether GBA1 mutations are associated with a CSF alpha-synuclein profile in dementia with Lewy bodies.

Methods: Screening of the GBA1 gene and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in SNCA rs356220, APOE rs429358, and MAPT rs1052587 as well as CSF levels of total alpha-synuclein, amyloid-beta1-42 , total-Tau, phospho-Tau, and neurofilament light chain were assessed in 100 dementia with Lewy bodies and 39 controls cross-sectionally.

Results: Severity of GBA1 mutations was associated with a younger age at onset and higher prevalence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. CSF levels of total alpha-synuclein were lowest in DLBGBA_pathogenic compared to DLBGBA_mild and DLBGBA_wildtype .

Conclusion: Similar to PD, pathogenic GBA1 mutations seem to be associated with CSF alpha-synuclein profiles in dementia with Lewy bodies. That might be useful for patient stratification for specific alpha-synuclein-lowering compounds. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Keywords: CSF; DLB; GBA; alpha-synuclein.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Glucosylceramidase / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lewy Bodies / metabolism
  • Lewy Body Disease / diagnosis
  • Lewy Body Disease / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • alpha-Synuclein / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • tau Proteins
  • GBA protein, human
  • Glucosylceramidase