Abstract
There is growing interest in the characterization of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as a biological tool with which to investigate changes in the neurotransmitter-receptor system in neurodegenerative disorders. Here we show a slight decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and a significant increase in dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) immunoreactivity in the PBL of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therapy with AChE inhibitors completely reversed the increase in DBH immunoreactivity. We hypothesize that the increase in DBH immunoreactivity may represent a compensatory response to cholinergic impairment. Our findings suggest that neurochemical interactions between the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems may be measured at a peripheral level in AD.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 338-341 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 |
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Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- Dopamine β-hydroxylase
- Immunocytochemistry
- Peripheral blood lymphocytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Increased lymphocyte dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease : Compensatory response to cholinergic deficit? / Giubilei, Franco; Calderaro, Caterina; Antonini, Giovanni; Sepe-Monti, Micaela; Tisei, Paolo; Brunetti, Ercole; Marchione, Francesca; Caronti, Brunella; Pontieri, Francesco E.
In: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol. 18, No. 3-4, 2004, p. 338-341.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased lymphocyte dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease
T2 - Compensatory response to cholinergic deficit?
AU - Giubilei, Franco
AU - Calderaro, Caterina
AU - Antonini, Giovanni
AU - Sepe-Monti, Micaela
AU - Tisei, Paolo
AU - Brunetti, Ercole
AU - Marchione, Francesca
AU - Caronti, Brunella
AU - Pontieri, Francesco E.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - There is growing interest in the characterization of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as a biological tool with which to investigate changes in the neurotransmitter-receptor system in neurodegenerative disorders. Here we show a slight decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and a significant increase in dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) immunoreactivity in the PBL of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therapy with AChE inhibitors completely reversed the increase in DBH immunoreactivity. We hypothesize that the increase in DBH immunoreactivity may represent a compensatory response to cholinergic impairment. Our findings suggest that neurochemical interactions between the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems may be measured at a peripheral level in AD.
AB - There is growing interest in the characterization of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as a biological tool with which to investigate changes in the neurotransmitter-receptor system in neurodegenerative disorders. Here we show a slight decrease in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and a significant increase in dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) immunoreactivity in the PBL of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therapy with AChE inhibitors completely reversed the increase in DBH immunoreactivity. We hypothesize that the increase in DBH immunoreactivity may represent a compensatory response to cholinergic impairment. Our findings suggest that neurochemical interactions between the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems may be measured at a peripheral level in AD.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Dopamine β-hydroxylase
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - Peripheral blood lymphocytes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=5644278788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=5644278788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000080128
DO - 10.1159/000080128
M3 - Article
C2 - 15305112
AN - SCOPUS:5644278788
VL - 18
SP - 338
EP - 341
JO - Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
JF - Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
SN - 1420-8008
IS - 3-4
ER -