Lateralization of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 in hippocampi of demented and psychotic people.
OBJECTIVE
The multifunctional mitochondrial enzyme 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 could play a role in the development of Alzheimer disease via its high-affinity binding to amyloid-beta peptides and its overexpression.


METHODS
We evaluated the specificity of alterations in mRNA/enzyme expression levels in human right and left hippocampi.


RESULTS
We observed a trend towards right/left laterality in nondemented nonpsychotic controls; however, the degree of asymmetry was higher for mRNA when compared to enzyme expression levels. In Alzheimer disease and schizophrenia, significant shifts to left/right asymmetry were found and the changes were associated with more marked increases in mRNA/enzyme expression in the left hemisphere. On the other hand, no alterations were observed in people with multi-infarct dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support studies reporting an impairment of mitochondria in Alzheimer disease or schizophrenia and a higher vulnerability of the dominant hemisphere to pathological processes. Overexpression of the enzyme could be used to distinguish Alzheimer disease from multi-infarct dementia.
Hovorkova
Petra
P
Alzheimer Disease Center, Prague Psychiatric Center, Prague, Czech Republic. kristofikova@pcp.lf3.cuni.cz
Kristofikova
Zdena
Z
Horinek
Ales
A
Ripova
Daniela
D
Majer
Emerich
E
Zach
Petr
P
Sellinger
Pavel
P
Ricny
Jan
J