title: Mitochondrial Alterations in Peripheral Mononuclear Blood Cells from Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients.
abstract: It is well recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, evidences of mitochondrial defects in AD peripheral cells are still inconclusive. Here, some mitochondrial-encoded and nuclear-encoded proteins, involved in maintaining the correct mitochondria machine, were investigated in terms of protein expression and enzymatic activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from AD and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients and healthy subjects. In addition mitochondrial DNA copy number was measured by real time PCR. We found some differences and some similarities between AD and MCI patients when compared with healthy subjects. For example, cytochrome C and cytochrome B were decreased in AD, while MCI showed only a statistical reduction of cytochrome C. On the other hand, both AD and MCI blood cells exhibited highly nitrated MnSOD, index of a prooxidant environment inside the mitochondria. TFAM, a regulator of mitochondrial genome replication and transcription, was decreased in both AD and MCI patients' blood cells. Moreover also the mitochondrial DNA amount was reduced in PBMCs from both patient groups. In conclusion these data confirmed peripheral mitochondria impairment in AD and demonstrated that TFAM and mtDNA amount reduction could be two features of early events occurring in AD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Diadem Ltd., Spin Off of Brescia University, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delbarba
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prandelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marziano
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buizza
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arce Varas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Biotechnology, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuetos
authors.affiliation: Cabueñes General Hospital, Calle Los Prados 395, Gijón, 33203 Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Pharmacology, Centre of Excellence in Applied Biology, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanni
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memo
authors.affiliation: Diadem Ltd., Spin Off of Brescia University, Brescia, Italy; Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uberti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016877:Oxidants; D045304:Cytochromes c; D045303:Cytochromes b; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase