Glycogen synthase kinase-3 is increased in white cells early in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disorder without a molecular marker in peripheral tissues or a disease modifying treatment. As increasing evidence has suggested a role for glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in the pathogenesis of the condition we measured total GSK-3 protein (alpha and beta isoforms) and GSK-3 activity (serine 9 phosphorylation) in a group of healthy elderly people, in AD and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Total GSK-3 protein was increased in both AD and in MCI without a compensatory decrease in activity. These data suggest that GSK-3 assays might be a useful diagnostic marker in a readily available tissue and moreover that GSK-3 activity is increased in the prodromal phase of the disorder suggesting that inhibition of GSK-3 might be a useful therapeutic strategy.
Hye
Abdul
A
Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE 58 AF, UK.
Kerr
Fiona
F
Archer
Nicola
N
Foy
Catherine
C
Poppe
Michaela
M
Brown
Richard
R
Hamilton
Gillian
G
Powell
John
J
Anderton
Brian
B
Lovestone
Simon
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000201:enzymology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3