Dynactin is involved in Lewy body pathology

Dynactin forms a protein complex with dynein that retrogradely transports cargo along microtubules. Dysfunction of this dynein‐dynactin complex causes several neurodegenerative diseases such as Perry syndrome, motor neuron diseases and progressive supranuclear palsy. Recently, we reported colocalization of phosphorylated α‐synuclein (p‐SNCA) and the largest subunit of dynactin (DCTN1) in Lewy body (LB)‐like structures in Perry syndrome. Previous reports have not focused on the relationship between dynactin and synucleinopathies. Thus, we examined autopsied human brains from patients with Parkinson's disease, dementia with LBs, and multiple system atrophy using immunohistochemistry for p‐SNCA, DCTN1, dynactin 2 (DCTN2, dynamitin) and dynein cytoplasmic 1 intermediate chain 1 (DYNC1I1). We also examined microtubule affinity‐regulating kinases (MARKs), which phosphorylate microtubule‐associated proteins and trigger microtubule disruption. Both brainstem‐type and cortical LBs were immunopositive for DCTN1, DCTN2, DYNC1I1 and p‐MARK and their staining often overlapped with p‐SNCA. Lewy neurites were also immunopositive for DCTN1, DCTN2 and DYNC1I1. However, p‐SNCA‐positive inclusions of multiple system atrophy, which included both glial and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, were immunonegative for DCTN1, DCTN2, DYNC1I1 and p‐MARK. Thus, immunohistochemistry for dynein‐dynactin complex molecules, especially DCTN1, can clearly distinguish LBs from neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions. Our results suggest that dynactin is closely associated with LB pathology.