Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42587236›Full record

ArticleClinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society2026

Cutaneous alpha-synuclein deposition informs autonomic function in individuals with early-stage multiple system atrophy.

Paula Trujillo, Leah Mann, Bailey Bellaire, Roy Freeman, Todd Levine, Christopher H Gibbons, Amy Cooper, Cynthia Wong, David Stamler, Daniel O Claassen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Paula TrujilloDepartment of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. paula.trujillo@vumc.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9753-7071
Leah MannDepartment of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Bailey BellaireCND Life Sciences, 9165 E Del Camino Dr., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Roy FreemanCND Life Sciences, 9165 E Del Camino Dr., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Todd LevineCND Life Sciences, 9165 E Del Camino Dr., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Christopher H GibbonsCND Life Sciences, 9165 E Del Camino Dr., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
Amy CooperDepartment of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Cynthia WongAlterity Therapeutics, Newark, CA, USA.
David StamlerAlterity Therapeutics, Newark, CA, USA.
Daniel O ClaassenDepartment of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

Funding

Clinical Trial Readiness for Multiple System Atrophy - Resubmission - 1U01NS122419 · NINDS · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI HORACIO KAUFMANN · 2022 to 2026
$4.8M
Biological Determinants of Impulsivity in Parkinson's DiseaseR01NS097783 · NINDS · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI CLAASSEN, DANIEL OLIVER · 2016 to 2020
$2.2M
Expanding Mentorship and Neuroimaging Expertise in Patient-Oriented Studies of Brain, Behavior, and Age-Related DementiasK24AG064114 · NIA · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI CLAASSEN, DANIEL OLIVER · 2020 to 2024
$855k
NIA NIH HHS K24 AG064114NIA NIH HHS K24AG064114NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS097783NINDS NIH HHS R01NS097783NINDS NIH HHS U01 NS122419NINDS NIH HHS U01NS122419
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMultiple system atrophy is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by autonomic failure, parkinsonism, and cerebellar ataxia. Phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in skin nerves has emerged as a promising biomarker, but longitudinal studies remain limited. This study evaluated changes in cutaneous alpha-synuclein deposition over time, its association with autonomic dysfunction, and its concordance with seed amplification assay findings.

methodsSeventeen participants with probable multiple system atrophy were followed up for 12 months with clinical assessments, skin biopsies from posterior cervical and distal thigh regions, standardized orthostatic vital signs, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker collection. Phosphorylated alpha-synuclein deposition was quantified using immunofluorescence microscopy and correlated with autonomic measures and seed amplification assay results.

resultsCutaneous alpha-synuclein deposition increased from baseline to the12-month follow-up visit. Total deposition was associated with orthostatic systolic blood pressure drop (p = 0.80, p = 0.0001) and with higher scores on the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire and Composite Autonomic Symptom Score. Posterior cervical deposition showed stronger autonomic associations than distal thigh deposition. No associations were found with global disease severity or neurofilament light chain levels. Two participants with negative seed amplification assay results showed phosphorylated alpha-synuclein on skin biopsy.

conclusionIn this cohort, cutaneous phosphorylated alpha-synuclein increased over time and correlated with objective orthostatic hypotension and autonomic symptom burden in early synucleinopathy. Skin biopsy may serve as a minimally invasive tool to support diagnosis, monitor progression, and stratify clinical trial participants.

Indexed as

Alpha-synucleinBiomarkerMultiple system atrophySkin biopsy

Identifiers

PMID42587236
PMCPMC13584761

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.