Association between the PI*M3 allele of alpha 1-antitrypsin and Alzheimer's disease? A preliminary report.
The deposition of beta A4-amyloid in senile plaques in the brain and small cerebral vessels is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) such as alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin have been found to be associated with beta-amyloid deposits; interest in their role in the pathogenesis of AD has therefore recently increased. We have analyzed alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotypes in a sample of 29 Polish patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. We have found an increased frequency of the PI*M3 allele (0.1897) in patients in comparison with the general population control (0.0563).
Kowalska
A
A
Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Danker-Hopfe
H
H
Wender
M
M
Florczak
J
J
Walter
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics*
D015843:Serpins; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin