title: Platelet of Alzheimer patients: increased counts and subnormal uptake and accumulation of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine.
abstract: Platelets are the main source of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) found in plasma. We studied a possible correlation between platelet markers and the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Our results indicate that in AD patients: (a) platelets are elevated, (b) their ability to accumulate 5-HT decreases and, (c) the kinetic parameters of 5-HT uptake are altered (decreased Km and Vmax), compared to non-demented healthy individuals. An aged Down syndrome patient presents even more deviant alterations. Our findings supports the idea that platelets may provide a systemic marker of AD, and eventually be useful for the clinical diagnosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Inestrosa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arriagada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donoso
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010976:Platelet Count; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin