Background: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) shares clinical features with idiopathic Parkinson' s disease (iPD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), yet reliable biomarkers for differential diagnosis remain elusive.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate Piezo1/2 expression in urinary exfoliated cells as a potential biomarker for MSA differentiation.
Methods: Piezo1/2 expression levels were quantified in urinary exfoliated cells from 76 MSA patients, 103 iPD patients, 59 PSP patients, and 126 healthy controls (HCs) across three independent cohorts using multiple analytical techniques.
Results: In the discovery cohort, Piezo1 expression was significantly reduced in MSA patients compared with HCs, iPD, and PSP (area under the curve: 0.9421, 0.8218, and 0.8036, respectively). These findings were validated in two independent cohorts, confirming consistently lower Piezo1 levels in MSA patients and their utility in distinguishing MSA from other groups.
期刊介绍:
Movement Disorders publishes a variety of content types including Reviews, Viewpoints, Full Length Articles, Historical Reports, Brief Reports, and Letters. The journal considers original manuscripts on topics related to the diagnosis, therapeutics, pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, etiology, genetics, and epidemiology of movement disorders. Appropriate topics include Parkinsonism, Chorea, Tremors, Dystonia, Myoclonus, Tics, Tardive Dyskinesia, Spasticity, and Ataxia.