IL-4 in vitro production is upregulated in Alzheimer's disease patients treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Cytokines appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Their modulation by treatment has been investigated only in a few studies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) on Interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in AD patients. IL-4 levels were measured by ELISA on peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures in the presence or absence of Concanavalin A or Phytohaemagglutinin. Linear regression analysis shows that patients who have been treated, have higher levels of IL-4 independently from age, gender and comorbidity. The increased production of IL-4 in AChEI treated patients might represent an additional mechanism through which AChEI act on AD progression.
Lugaresi
Alessandra
A
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Section of Neurology, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti, Italy.
Di Iorio
Angelo
A
Iarlori
Carla
C
Reale
Marcella
M
De Luca
Giovanna
G
Sparvieri
Eleonora
E
Michetti
Alessia
A
Conti
Pio
P
Gambi
Domenico
D
Abate
Giuseppe
G
Paganelli
Roberto
R
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D015847:Interleukin-4