Lewy body

Lewy body

Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells. They are identified under the microscope when histology is performed on the brain.

Lewy bodies appear as spherical masses that displace other cell components. There are two morphological types: classical (brain stem) Lewy bodies and cortical Lewy bodies. A classical Lewy body is an eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion that consists of a dense core surrounded by a halo of 10-nm wide radiating fibrils, the primary structural component of which is alpha-synuclein. In contrast, a cortical Lewy body is less well-defined and lacks the halo. Nonetheless, it is still made up of alpha-synuclein fibrils.

Cell biology

A Lewy body is composed of the protein alpha-synuclein associated with other proteins such as ubiquitin, neurofilament protein, and alpha B crystallin. It is believed that Lewy bodies represent an aggresome response in the cell.

Associated diseases

The main disease associated with the presence of Lewy bodies is Parkinson's disease. Lewy bodies are also present in neurons in dementia with Lewy bodies and the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease, as well as Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome.

Inclusions composed of alpha synuclein, different from Lewy bodies, can be found in glial cells in multiple system atrophy. These are termed glial cytoplasmic inclusions. Multiple system atrophy can be clinically confused with Parkinson's disease.

History

Lewy bodies were first seen and linked to Parkinson's disease ("paralysis agitans") in 1912 by the neurologist Frederic Lewy (1885-1950).

References

* E. Forster and F. H. Lewy. "Paralysis agitans". In "Pathologische Anatomie. Handbuch der Neurologie" (edited by M. Lewandowsky). Berlin: Springer Verlag 1912, 920-933.

* P. Duffy and V. Tennyson. Phase and electron microscopic observations of Lewy bodies and melanin granules in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus in Parkinson's disease. "J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol." 24: 398-414, 1965

External links

* [http://www.lbda.org/ Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc.] The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. The Association's purposes are charitable, educational, and scientific.
* [http://www.lewybodyjournal.org/ Lewy Body Journal]
* Lewy Body Dementia ( [http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/dementias-lewy.htm in english] )( [http://www.alzheimer.ca/french/disease/dementias-lewy.htm en Franes] ) information from the Alzheimer Society of Canada ( [http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/index.php in english] )( [http://www.alzheimer.ca/french/index.php en Franes] )
* [http://www.lewybody.org/ Lewy Body Society] - The UK's only Lewy Body charity.
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-nohome_06nov06,0,6053461.story Too violent to hold, too sick not to] Chicago Tribune article of one individual with the affliction.


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  • Lewy body — lü ē , lā vē n an eosinophilic inclusion body found in the cytoplasm of neurons of the cortex and brain stem in Parkinson s disease and some forms of dementia Lew·ey lü ē Frederic Henry (orig. Friedrich Heinrich Lewy ) (1885 1950) American… …   Medical dictionary

  • Lewy body — /looˈi bodˈi/ noun An abnormal structure in a nerve cell, found in people with Parkinson s disease and a common type of dementia ORIGIN: FH Lewy (1885–1950), German neurologist …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lewy body — Hyaline eosinophilic concentrically laminated inclusions found in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus of patients with Parkinsonism and Lewy body dementia …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Lewy-Body-Demenz — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 G31.88 Lewy Körperchen Demenz …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lewy body dementia — dementia with Lewy bodies a type of dementia with similarities to both Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, with Lewy bodies in the cortical neurons; patients have decreased verbal fluency and visual spatial awareness …   Medical dictionary

  • Lewy body dementia — n. degenerative dementing disease of the elderly related to Lewy bodies found in the cortex of the brain characterized at first by progressive psychosis or dementia and following by characteristics of Parkinson s disease (such as involuntary… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Lewy body — noun An abnormal aggregate of protein that develops inside nerve cells …   Wiktionary

  • Lewy — may refer to: * Levi, a biblical personage. * Lewy body, abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells of the brain. * Dementia with Lewy bodies, progressive brain disease associated with degenerative dementia in the elderly. *… …   Wikipedia

  • cortical Lewy body disease — a disorder characterized by a combination of parkinsonism and dementia, which typically fluctuates; abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies are found within the nerve cells of the cortex and the basal ganglia. It is the second most common cause of… …   Medical dictionary

  • cortical Lewy body disease — a disorder characterized by a combination of parkinsonism and dementia, which typically fluctuates. Visual hallucinations are common, and there is exquisite sensitivity to phenothiazine drugs. Abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies are found within …   The new mediacal dictionary

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