Platelet of Alzheimer patients: increased counts and subnormal uptake and accumulation of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine.
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.
Inestrosa
N C
NC
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.
Alarcón
R
R
Arriagada
J
J
Donoso
A
A
Alvarez
J
J
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*
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin