Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease are intraneuronal cytoplasmic inclusions predominantly composed of which protein?
- A Alpha-synuclein (misfolded) ✓
- B Tau protein (hyperphosphorylated)
- C TDP-43
- D Huntingtin protein with polyglutamine expansions
Explanation
Lewy bodies are the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. They are intracytoplasmic, eosinophilic, rounded inclusions with a dense core and pale halo, predominantly composed of misfolded, ubiquitinated alpha-synuclein aggregates. Tau (neurofibrillary tangles) is the hallmark of Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia; TDP-43 is seen in ALS and FTLD; huntingtin in Huntington's disease.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
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