Tau-negative astrocytic star-like inclusions and coiled bodies in dementia with Lewy bodies.

To evaluate glial lesions in cases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), we studied the brains of four patients with DLB. Astrocytic star-like inclusions, which resembled tufted astrocytic fibrillary tangles in shape, were found in the cortex of two of these cases. In addition, coiled bodies were found in the white matter of the cerebrum in two cases. The astrocytic star-like inclusions were immunohistochemically negative for tau protein, ubiquitin and alpha-synuclein. The coiled bodies were immunohistochemically negative for tau protein but immunopositive for ubiquitin and alpha-synuclein. These results suggest that in DLB a primary degenerative process takes place in both glial cells and neurons.