The cerebrospinal fluid levels of tau, growth-associated protein-43 and soluble amyloid precursor protein correlate in Alzheimer's disease, reflecting a common pathophysiological process.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau (total tau), growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP; i.e. total sAPP), and beta-amyloid(42) (Abeta(42)) were studied in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD; n = 14), Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 47) and vascular dementia (VAD; n = 16), and in age-matched controls (n = 12). CSF-tau was increased in AD compared to controls and FTD (p < 0.001 for both). CSF-GAP-43 was increased in AD compared to controls (p < 0.05), and both CSF-GAP-43 and CSF-sAPP were increased in AD compared to FTD (p < 0.01). Positive and highly significant correlations were found between CSF-tau and CSF-GAP-43 in all groups and between CSF-tau, CSF-GAP-43 and CSF-sAPP in AD. The correlations found may reflect a common pathophysiologic process such as axonal degeneration.
Sjögren
M
M
Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden. magnus.sjogren@ms.se
Davidsson
P
P
Gottfries
J
J
Vanderstichele
H
H
Edman
A
A
Vanmechelen
E
E
Wallin
A
A
Blennow
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D020774:Pick Disease of the Brain / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C092862:amyloid beta-protein (10-43); D016875:tau Proteins