title: Human neurons generate C-reactive protein and amyloid P: upregulation in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: C-reactive protein (CRP) and amyloid P (AP) are pentraxins which are associated with many pathological lesions, including the amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of Alzheimer disease (AD). It has always been assumed that they are generated by liver and delivered to their sites of action by serum. Here we report by in situ hydridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry that the mRNAs and proteins of both CRP and AP are concentrated in pyramidal neurons and are upregulated in affected areas of AD brain. Controlling pentraxin production at the tissue level may be important in reducing inflammatory damage in AD.
authors.affiliation: Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasojima
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: McGeer
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McGeer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D021983:Cyclophilins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D021983:Cyclophilins