Interleukin-18 produced by peripheral blood cells is increased in Alzheimer's disease and correlates with cognitive impairment.
A body of evidence indicates that inflammation plays a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis. IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced in the brain, emerging to be implicated in AD. Although no differences in circulating IL-18 levels were measured between AD patients and controls, a significant increased production of IL-18 was obtained from stimulated blood mononuclear cells of AD patients. This was true particularly in AD subjects carrying the C/C genotype at the -607 position of IL-18 gene promoter. Furthermore, a significant correlation between IL-18 production and cognitive decline was observed in AD patients. Overall, these data indicate that IL-18-related inflammatory pathways, probably also in virtue of polymorphic IL-18 gene influence, are exacerbated in AD patients, and that this cytokine may indeed participate in pathogenic processes leading to dementia.
Bossù
Paola
P
IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.
Ciaramella
Antonio
A
Salani
Francesca
F
Bizzoni
Federica
F
Varsi
Erika
E
Di Iulio
Fulvia
F
Giubilei
Franco
F
Gianni
Walter
W
Trequattrini
Alberto
A
Moro
Maria Luisa
ML
Bernardini
Sergio
S
Caltagirone
Carlo
C
Spalletta
Gianfranco
G
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein