Increased serum IL-1beta level in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE
Abnormal inflammatory response has been associated to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be a marker of an ongoing neurodegenerative process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-three older adults (58 with mild to moderate AD, 74 with MCI and 31 healthy controls) were recruited for this study. Serum IL-1beta levels were measured by ELISA. Patients with MCI were subcategorized in single-domain amnestic (aMCI), nonamnestic (naMCI), and multiple-domain (mdMCI) subtypes.


RESULTS
Patients with AD and MCI (all subtypes) had a significant increase in serum IL-1beta levels as compared to controls (p = 0.03). Patients with mdMCI had serum IL-1beta levels comparable to those with AD, and significantly higher than those observed in aMCI and naMCI (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides evidence that inflammatory mechanisms, represented by elevated IL-1beta, are observed in patients with MCI, specifically in those with impairment in multiple cognitive domains. As these patients are at higher risk of conversion to dementia, we propose that an increased serum IL-1beta level is a stage marker of the ongoing brain neurodegeneration in the continuum between normal ageing and AD.
Forlenza
Orestes Vicente
OV
Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM 27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Diniz
Breno Satler
BS
Talib
Leda Leme
LL
Mendonça
Vanessa Amaral
VA
Ojopi
Elida B
EB
Gattaz
Wagner Farid
WF
Teixeira
Antonio Lucio
AL
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001938:Brazil; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D053583:Interleukin-1beta