Elevated microsomal prostaglandin-E synthase-1 in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
The proinflammatory prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) fluctuates over time in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the cerebral distribution and expression patterns of microsomal prostaglandin-E synthase (mPGES)-1 have not been compared with those of normal human brains.


METHODS
Middle frontal gyrus tissue from AD and age-matched control brains was analyzed by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry with mPGES-1-specific antibodies.


RESULTS
Western blotting revealed that mPGES-1 expression was significantly elevated in AD tissue. Furthermore, immunofluorescence of mPGES-1 was observed in neurons, microglia, and endothelial cells of control and AD tissue. Although mPGES-1 was consistently present in astrocytes of control tissue, it was present in only some astrocytes of AD tissue. Immunohistochemical staining suggested that mPGES-1 was elevated in pyramidal neurons of AD tissue when compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that mPGES-1 is normally expressed constitutively in human neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells but is up-regulated in AD.
Chaudhry
Uzma A
UA
Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Zhuang
Hean
H
Crain
Barbara J
BJ
Doré
Sylvain
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000201:enzymology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D015854:Up-Regulation
D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C000605862:PTGES protein, human; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases