Identification of erythrocyte biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of the motor system. It has been hypothesised that red blood cells (RBCs) may be involved in the disease process by the release of damaging molecules.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this ex vivo study is to compare RBCs biochemical and hemorheological parameters between ALS patients and healthy donors to identify novel biomarkers of the ALS disease.


METHODS
We included 82 ALS patients and 40 gender age-matched healthy donors. We performed quantification of erythrocyte aggregation and deformability, nitric oxide (NO) efflux from RBCs, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity and intraerythrocytic concentration of nitrite, nitrate and S-nitrosogluthatione (GSNO).


RESULTS
Erythrocyte deformability and AChE activity were increased in patients with ALS in comparison to healthy donors. NO efflux from RBCs and concentration of intraerythrocytic nitrite were lower in ALS patients. In patients, we found that for higher NO range of values the respiratory function is worse and that for higher AChE range of values the RBCs nitrite content increase.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicate that NO efflux from RBCs and RBCs AChE should be further explored as potential biomarkers for ALS.
Instituto de Bioquímica, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Catarina
C
Lima
Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Susana
S
Pinto
Instituto de Bioquímica, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Patrícia
P
Napoleão
Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ana Catarina
AC
Pronto-Laborinho
Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Maria Amparo
MA
Barros
Instituto de Bioquímica, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Teresa
T
Freitas
Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.|Departamento de Neurociências. Hospital de Santa Maria-CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal.
Mamede
M
de Carvalho
Instituto de Bioquímica, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Carlota
C
Saldanha
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide
Acetylcholinesterase; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; erythrocyte; nitric oxide; nitrite; respiratory function