Diminished production of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Cerebral inflammation as well as systemic immunological alterations have been reported in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-12, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in whole blood cell cultures of AD patients and age-matched controls. The production of all measured cytokines after mitogen stimulation is significantly decreased in the AD group compared to controls. The results reflect an attenuated secretory activity of monocytes/macrophages, but also of T-helper cells. The data sustain the assumption that a systemic, possibly age-related alteration of immune mechanisms may play a pathogenetic role in the development of AD.
Richartz
E
E
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Osianderstrasse 24, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany. elke.richartz@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Batra
A
A
Simon
P
P
Wormstall
H
H
Bartels
M
M
Buchkremer
G
G
Schott
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma