Correlation of cytokine secretion by mononuclear cells of Alzheimer patients and their disease stage.
Cytokine secretion by human mononuclear cells (MNC) was investigated in age-matched controls and in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD patients were divided into two study groups: 'mild' and 'moderately severe'. A significant increase in interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion was found in AD patients in the moderately severe stage of the disease, whereas in the mild stage of the disease there was a significant decrease in interleukin-3 activity (IL-3) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels. No significant differences were found in the level of production of interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta). Our results demonstrate the existence of defective immune functions in AD patients which are correlated with the clinical condition of these patients.
Department of Neurology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Sava, Israel.
M
M
Huberman
F
F
Shalit
I
I
Roth-Deri
B
B
Gutman
C
C
Brodie
E
E
Kott
B
B
Sredni
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma