Association between Alzheimer's disease and bound autochthonous IgM on T cells.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an association between the number of peripheral T cells binding IgM per total T cell population (%IgM+ T cells) and dementia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two inpatient and two outpatient sites at a university medical center.


METHODS
Fifty-three adults.


METHODS
Peripheral blood was collected from each individual, and the %IgM+ T cells was determined by flow cytometry. The data obtained by medical record chart review were analyzed to determine whether the %IgM+ T cells correlated with cognitive diagnoses, demographic variables, medical diagnoses, or prescribed medications.


RESULTS
The %IgM+ T cells was negatively correlated with MMSE scores (r = -.33, P = .016). There was a significant difference in the mean %IgM+ T cells between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD patients (35.6% +/- 30.2% vs 14.6% +/- 23.9%, P < .001) but no statistically significant association between the mean %IgM+ T cells and age, sex, race, prescribed medications (except gastrointestinal (GI) medications), or medical diagnoses (except stroke). After statistically controlling for GI medications and stroke, AD remained independently associated with the %IgM+ T cells (P = .008).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with AD had significantly more of their T cells coated with IgM than did non-AD patients.
Kell
S H
SH
Center for Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Allman
R M
RM
Harrell
L E
LE
Liu
T
T
Solvason
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007075:Immunoglobulin M