title: Potassium channel dysfunction in fibroblasts identifies patients with Alzheimer disease.
abstract: Since memory loss is characteristic of Alzheimer disease (AD), and since K+ channels change during acquisition of memory in both molluscs and mammals, we investigated K+ channel function as a possible site of AD pathology and, therefore, as a possible diagnostic index as well. A 113-pS tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive K+ channel was consistently absent from AD fibroblasts, while it was often present in young and aged control fibroblasts. A second (166-pS) K+ channel was present in all three groups. Elevated external potassium raised intracellular Ca2+ in all cases. TEA depolarized and caused intracellular Ca2+ elevation in young and aged control fibroblasts but not AD fibroblasts. The invariable absence of a 113-pS TEA-sensitive K+ channel and TEA-induced Ca2+ signal indicate K+ channel dysfunction in AD fibroblasts. These results suggest the possibility of a laboratory method that would diagnostically distinguish AD patients, with or without a family history of AD, from normal age-matched controls and also from patients with non-AD neurological and psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Etcheberrigaray
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tofel-Grehl
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Alkon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium