Colocalization of transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43 and huntingtin in inclusions of Huntington disease

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2008 Dec;67(12):1159-65. doi: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e31818e8951.

Abstract

Transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a component of pathological inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and several forms of sporadic and familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Transactivation-responsive DNA-binding protein 43-immunostained inclusions have also been found in other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and parkinsonism dementia complex of Guam. Here, we analyzed the occurrence of TDP-43 immunostaining in Huntington disease, which is characterized by inclusions containing mutated huntingtin. In all Huntington disease cases studied, TDP-43 was frequently colocalized with huntingtin in dystrophic neurites and various intracellular inclusions, but not in intranuclear inclusions; the latter were only stained with huntingtin and anti-ubiquitin antibodies. Two phosphorylation-dependent TDP-43 antibodies proved to be superior for detecting pathological inclusions because they did not stain nonphosphorylated TDP-43 in normal nuclei; staining of normal nuclei with phosphorylation-independent antibodies obscured the inclusions. Our results further add to the hypothesis that TDP-43 may be involved in the pathology of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Huntington Disease / genetics
  • Huntington Disease / metabolism*
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Inclusion Bodies / genetics
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism*
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurites / metabolism
  • Neurites / pathology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HTT protein, human
  • Huntingtin Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Ubiquitin