Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells
in Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and some other disorders. They
are identified under the microscope when histology is performed on the brain.
Lewy bodies appear as spherical masses that displace other cell components. The
two morphological types are classical Lewy bodies and cortical Lewy bodies. A
classical Lewy body is an eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion consisting 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. Cortical Lewy bodies are a distinguishing feature
of dementia with Lewy bodies, but may occasionally be seen in ballooned
neurons characteristic of Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration, as well
as in patients with other tauopathies. They are also seen in cases of multiple
system atrophy, particularly the Parkinsonian variant.
History Lewy bodies were discovered by Frederic
Lewy in 1912. 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. Tau proteins may also be present, and Lewy bodies may
occasionally be surrounded by neurofibrillary tangles. Lewy bodies and
NFTs can occasionally exist in the same neuron, particularly in the amygdala.
Lewy bodies are believed to represent an aggresome response in the cell.
Lewy neurites Lewy neurites are abnormal neurites in
diseased neurons, containing granular material and abnormal α-synuclein
filaments similar to those found in Lewy bodies. Like Lewy bodies, lewy neurites
are a feature of α-synucleinopathies such as dementia with Lewy bodies,
Parkinson's disease, and multiple system atrophy. They are also found in the
CA2-3 region of the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease.
Cultural reference = Celebrities=
Notable people who suffered from Lewy body dementia include:
Actor Robin Williams Actress Estelle Getty
Music industry icon Casey Kasem Athlete Stan Mikita
Artist Don Featherstone, creator of the iconic lawn flamingo.
= In fiction= In the premiere episode of Boss, Dr.
Ella Harris tells Chicago Mayor Tom Kane he has Lewy bodies, and his progressing
symptoms are shown in each episode. See also
Neurite Proteopathy
Synucleinopathies References
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15235805. External links
Lewy Body Dementia Association