Reactions of the immune system in chronic degenerative neurological diseases.
Elements consistent with a cell mediated immune response were identified immunohistochemically in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) spinal cord and Alzheimer disease (AD) hippocampus. T helper/inducer and cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes were detected in affected tissues in both diseases. In addition, abundant reactive microglia were found expressing the major histocompatibility glycoproteins HLA-A,B,C and HLA-DR, as well as receptors for the Fc chain (Fc gamma R1), for complement 3 and 4, and for vitronectin. In AD, the complement proteins C1q, C4d, C3d and C5b-9 were found on dystrophic neurites, neuropile threads and some neurofibrillary tangles. In ALS, the only complement proteins identified were C4d and C3d. The integrin ligands vitronectin and ICAM-1 were also identified in affected tissues in both diseases.
Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
P L
PL
McGeer
E G
EG
McGeer
T
T
Kawamata
T
T
Yamada
H
H
Akiyama
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D011506:Proteins