Impairment of mitogenic activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in Alzheimer's disease

• Published in: Neuroreport Vol. 12; no. 18; p. 3969
• Main Authors: Stieler, J T, Lederer, C, Brückner, M K, Wolf, H, Holzer, M, Gertz, H J, Arendt, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 21.12.2001
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Alzheimer Disease - immunology; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - biosynthesis; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Division - immunology; Flow Cytometry; Genotype; Humans; Lectins, C-Type; Mitogens - pharmacology; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects
• ISSN: 0959-4965; 1473-558X
• DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200112210-00023

Cell-cycle dysregulation might be critically involved in the process of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We now provide evidence for a dysfunction of the cell division cycle as a more general cellular phenomenon of the disease. Peripheral blood lymphocytes, stimulated with mitogenic compounds, were less able to express CD69, an early proliferation marker, in AD patients than in age-matched controls. Expression levels of CD69 of both T-cells and B-cells correlated inversely with the Mini-mental Scale. The results suggest that a systemic failure of cellular proliferation control might be of critical importance for the pathomechanism of AD.