Abstract
The accumulation of the ubiquitous amyloid peptide in the brain is a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease. Consistent with studies demonstrating alterations of various biochemical processes of cells of peripheral tissues and the importance of skin biopsy in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, we investigated whether differences in the basal intracellular free calcium levels of lymphocytes and cultured cutaneous fibroblasts derived from sporadic Alzheimer patients and from age‐matched control individuals might be present. Calcium levels were measured in Fura‐2AM‐loaded human fibroblasts by dual‐wavelength spectrofluorimetry. Basal calcium levels appeared to be higher in Alzheimer lymphocytes when compared with control ones. Resting calcium concentration of Alzheimer fibroblasts, however, has proved to be lower than that seen with control cells. Exposure of cells to amyloid resulted in the elevation in the Ca2+ level of both control cell types, however, that of Alzheimer lymphocytes and fibroblasts did not differ considerably. Our test could prove useful in supporting the diagnosis of (sporadic) AD in patients suspected of suffering from the disease. Also, this simple finding may serve as a springboard to monitoring Alzheimer pathology in the peripheral systems of the body.
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