Evidence for the presence of antibodies to cholinergic neurons in the serum of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
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 presented support the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms may operate in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Foley
P
P
Department of Biochemistry, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK.
Bradford
H F
HF
Docherty
M
M
Fillit
H
H
Luine
V N
VN
McEwen
B
B
Bucht
G
G
Winblad
B
B
Hardy
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D002794:Choline