title: Erythrocyte membrane stability to hydrogen peroxide is decreased in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: The brain and erythrocytes have similar susceptibility toward free radicals. Therefore, erythrocyte abnormalities might indicate the progression of the oxidative damage in Alzheimer disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate erythrocyte membrane stability and plasma antioxidant status in AD. Fasting blood samples (from 17 patients with AD and 14 healthy controls) were obtained and erythrocyte membrane stability against hydrogen peroxide and 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), serum Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), residual antioxidant activity or gap (GAP), erythrocyte catalase activity (CAT), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, erythrocyte nonproteic thiols, and total plasma thiols were determined. A significant decrease in erythrocyte membrane stability to hydrogen peroxide was found in AD patients when compared with controls (P<0.05). On the contrary, CAT activity (P<0.0001) and total plasma thiols (P<0.05) were increased in patients with AD compared with controls. Our results indicate that the most satisfactory measurement of the oxidative stress level in the blood of patients with AD is the erythrocyte membrane stability to hydrogen peroxide. Reduced erythrocyte membrane stability may be further evaluated as a potential peripheral marker for oxidative damage in AD.
authors.affiliation: *Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy †R&D Irist LabMed SRL, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilca
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lixandru
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaman
authors.forename: Bogdana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vîrgolici
authors.forename: Valeriu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Atanasiu
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stoian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D012383:Romania
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide