Comparative studies on [Ca2+]i-level of fibroblasts from Alzheimer patients and control individuals.
The accumulation of the beta-amyloid peptide (betaAP) in the brain, produced from the ubiquitously expressed amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consistent with studies demonstrating the importance of skin biopsy in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, we investigated whether differences in intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of cultured cutaneous fibroblasts derived from sporadic AD patients and from age-matched control individuals might be present. [Ca2+]i was measured in Fura-2AM-loaded human fibroblasts by dual wavelength spectrofluorimetry. AD cells exhibited lower [Ca2+]i as compared to the control cultures. Exposure of fibroblasts to betaAP resulted in increased [Ca2+]i of the control cells, but not of AD fibroblasts. Our test could prove useful in supporting the diagnosis of (sporadic) AD in patients suspected of suffering from the disease.
Palotás
A
A
Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Hungary. palotas@mdche.szote.u-szeged.hu
Kálmán
J
J
Laskay
G
G
Juhász
A
A
Janka
Z
Z
Penke
B
B
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C049925:fura-2-am; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2