title: Alzheimer's disease and granulocyte density diversity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study investigates circulating eosinophils and neutrophils in Alzheimer's (AD) type dementia with respect to density (kg/L). The existence of β-amyloid plaques in the brain is a feature of AD. Sporadic scientific reports indicate that the disease affects circulating neutrophils. In contrast, numerous publications investigate inflammatory reactions in AD brains. Locally, the plaques evoke a substantial inflammatory response involving activated microglia and astrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with probable AD (n = 39) were included and compared with elderly individuals (n = 22) lacking apparent memory problems. We sampled 10 mL venous blood in citrate. Granulocytes were separated according to density in linear Percoll™ gradients. Subsequently, the gradients were divided into density subfractions (n = 16). In every fraction, determination of eosinophil and neutrophil counts was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AD sufferers displayed less granulocytes in fractions nos. 13-15 containing light cells. For these fractions, the P-values proved to be (P < 0.001; not significant; P = 0.03) and (P = 0.01; P = 0.01; not significant), for eosinophils and neutrophils, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present work describes that less circulating light granulocytes are a feature of AD demented individuals. It is to hypothesize that it is a sign of impaired granulocyte turnover and cell damage. It is concluded that AD affects inflammatory cells in the periphery and that the behaviour of granulocytes in dementia is worthwhile further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, the Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden. petter.jaremo@telia.com
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Järemo
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milovanovic
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winblad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*