Age-dependent decline in erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity: correlation with oxidative stress.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress hypothesis offers a mechanism for the aging process and its involvement in other pathologies such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer. AChE activity in erythrocytes may be considered as a marker of central cholinergic status. The present study was undertaken to (i) determine the activity of erythrocyte AChE as a function of human process (ii) correlate AChE activity with oxidative stress during human aging.


METHODS
Blood was collected from healthy subjects (n = 37) 22-82 years. Erythrocyte AChE activity, MDA and plasma antioxidant capacity in terms of FRAP was measured spectrophotometrically.


RESULTS
There was a marked decrease in AChE activity with increasing age. The reduction in activity of AChE correlated well with increased lipid peroxidation and a decrease in FRAP values.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased antioxidant defense, and alteration in membrane rheology during aging process both may contribute towards decreased activity of AChE in erythrocyte membrane. This finding may help in explaining the neuronal complications taking place under conditions of oxidative stress, aging, and dementia.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, India.
Rashmi
R
Jha
Syed Ibrahim
SI
Rizvi
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase