Apoptosis of CD4+ T and natural killer cells in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Immunotherapy appears to be a potent treatment against Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms underlying neural-immune interaction are still not known.


METHODS
Here, we determined cell death and distribution of lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in AD and aging, e.g. T (CD4+ CD3+, CD8+ CD3+), B (CD19+) and NK (CD16++CD56+) cells.


RESULTS
Increased apoptosis was found in CD4+ T and NK cells in AD, while in aging all subsets were affected. The expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 correlated with observed cell death in T-helper and B cells irrespective of dementia. The levels of Bcl2 in T-cells were significantly increased in mild AD. Apoptosis and Bcl2 levels were also elevated in the APP (751SL)xPS1 (M146L) transgenic mouse model.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanisms triggering apoptosis and activation of lymphocytes in AD appear therefore to be different than those in immunosenescence and possibly bear an important biomarker to monitor immunotherapy in AD.
Schindowski
K
K
Institute of Pharmacology, Biocenter, Johann Wolfgang-Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany. Katharina.Schindowski@lille.inserm.fr
Peters
J
J
Gorriz
C
C
Schramm
U
U
Weinandi
T
T
Leutner
S
S
Maurer
K
K
Frölich
L
L
Müller
W E
WE
Eckert
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001057:Apolipoproteins E