Butyrylcholinesterase, ApoE and Alzheimer's disease in a population from the Canary Islands (Spain).
OBJECTIVE
Cholinergic dysfunction is a major neurochemical feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD), accountable for many cognitive dysfunctions and some psychiatric symptoms. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is one of the cholinesterases with increased activity in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. Several mutations code for different BChE, such as the K variant, which is the most common and is capable of reducing BChE activity by 30%. We studied the relationship between this K variant and Alzheimer's disease in our population from the Canary Islands (Spain).


METHODS
We used DNA PCR-RFLP techniques to compare 282 patients who had been diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease--according to NINCS-ADRDA criteria--with 312 control subjects confirmed to be free of cognitive impairment as assessed by using the CAMDEX cognitive subscale CAMCOG.


RESULTS
In our population the K variant of BChE is linked to the age of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, since AD individuals with this allele presented the disease at a later stage. No other susceptibility relations are exposed in this study. In addition, the BChE allelic frequencies in our population are higher than those previously reported.
Déniz-Naranjo
Maria Cándida
MC
Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín de Gran Canaria, Bco. de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Muñoz-Fernández
Carmen
C
Alemany-Rodríguez
Maria Jesús
MJ
del Carmen Pérez-Vieitez
Maria
M
Aladro-Benito
Yolanda
Y
Irurita-Latasa
Juncal
J
Sánchez-García
Florentino
F
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D044469:Racial Groups; D013030:Spain / Q000208:ethnology
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine