Differential Pattern of Brain-Specific CSF Proteins Tau and Amyloid-Beta in Parkinsonian Syndromes

To evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins reflecting processes of neurodegeneration and glial activation in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP; Richardson's syndrome, n = 20; PSP-Parkinsonism, n = 7) and multiple system atrophy (MSA, n = 25), we analyzed tau, phosphorylated tau, amyloid-beta(1-42) (A beta 1-42), A beta 1-40, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and CSF routine variables. Individuals with PSP-Parkinsonism and MSA had elevated tau levels when compared with Richardson's syndrome, Parkinson's disease (PD), and age-matched controls (P <= 0.001). Ratios of P-tau/T-tau were significantly different in Parkinsonian syndromes. CSF A beta 1-42 was decreased only in patients with Richardson's syndrome. In a subset of Parkinsonian syndromes, we found elevated GFAP concentrations and increased CSF/serum albumin ratios. There were no correlations between biomarker concentrations and clinical scores in any of the diseases. In conclusion, this preliminary data show that changes in CSF tau and A beta 1-42 may indicate different protein processing in PSP patients and might, therefore, be relevant in the differentiation of PSP subtypes. (C) 2010 Movement Disorder Society