Antibodies in serum of patients with Alzheimer's disease cause immunolysis of cholinergic nerve terminals from the rat cerebral cortex.
A blind study showing that serum from patients with Alzheimer's disease causes immunolysis of mammalian brain synaptosomes is reported. Control, aged-matched, sera were largely without effect. The immunolysis was directed mainly against cholinergic synaptosomes. The data support the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms may operate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Bradford
H F
HF
Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK.
Foley
P
P
Docherty
M
M
Fillit
H
H
Luine
V N
VN
McEwen
B
B
Bucht
G
G
Winbald
B
B
Hardy
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000276:immunology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000906:Antibodies; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase