Tau in Skin Biopsies: Distinguishing Tauopathies from Alpha-Synucleinopathies

A small study suggests a potential future role for skin biopsy in distinguishing among clinically similar diseases.

Accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau is known to be associated with diagnoses such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Tau is also frequently present in α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). These authors examined tau expression in skin biopsies of patients clinically diagnosed with PD (n=31), MSA (n=14), PSP (n=11), CBD (n=4), and healthy controls (n=24).

Tau measured at the RNA level by real time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the main transcript variants were 2N and 4R and that these were more expressed in the PSP and CBD groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays also showed higher levels of tau in skin lysates in PSP and C…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)