Decline of immune responsiveness: a pathogenetic factor in Alzheimer's disease?
The involvement of immunological alterations in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is widely discussed. Hitherto, findings on systemic immunological alterations are inconsistent. We measured the concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, and of the soluble receptors sIL-2r, sIL-6r, and sTNF-alphar, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 20 Alzheimer patients and 21 controls. Moreover, we studied levels of the pro-inflammatory IL-6, Il-12, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha, and of the anti-inflammatory IL-5 and IL-13 in stimulated blood cell cultures from 27 AD patients and 25 controls. The levels in CSF and serum were diminished in AD or under detection limit. In mitogen-stimulated blood cultures we found a significant decrease of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the AD group. Our data suggest a general decline of immune responsiveness in AD. Based on the recent research, an impaired immune response may be considered as a pathogenetically relevant factor in AD. With respect to the putative role of ageing in AD, we assume a premature immunosenescence contributing to the Alzheimer's pathology.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Osianderstr. 24, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany. elke.richartz@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Elke
E
Richartz
Elke
E
Stransky
Anil
A
Batra
Perikles
P
Simon
Piotr
P
Lewczuk
Gerhard
G
Buchkremer
Mathias
M
Bartels
Klaus
K
Schott
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016207:Cytokines