[Change of fibroblast calcium levels caused by beta-amyloid peptide in Alzheimer disease].
BACKGROUND
beta-amyloid peptides, comprising the major neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease, have been found to form depositions in various peripheral tissues, including the skin. Neurons in the disorder succumb to the altered ionic homeostasis and some other factors caused by this toxic peptide. In line with these findings, our study aimed to find differences in biochemical processes of cultured cutaneous fibroblasts derived from sporadic Alzheimer patients and from age-matched control individuals that may mirror changes in the central nervous system.


METHODS
Intracellular ionic homeostasis of Alzheimer and control fibroblasts was measured in Fura-2AM-loaded human fibroblasts by dual wavelength spectrofluorimetry.


RESULTS
Cells derived from Alzheimer patients exhibited lower intracellular free calcium levels as compared to the control cultures. Exposure of fibroblasts to beta-amyloid resulted in increased calcium concentrations of the control cells, but not of Alzheimer ones.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that Alzheimer's disease is a systemic disorder that, among others, affects the calcium homeostasis of fibroblasts. Even though it is unknown whether the diminished ionic response of Alzheimer fibroblasts is a disease or actual status marker, it could prove to be a useful model for the analysis of Alzheimer specific changes.
Palotás
András
A
Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Orvosi Vegytani Intézet, 6721 Szeged. palotas@nepsy.szote.u-szeged.hu
Kálmán
János
J
Laskay
Gábor
G
Juhász
Anna
A
Janka
Zoltán
Z
Penke
Botond
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D002118:Calcium