Abstract
Background: Several lines of evidence in the literature have shown that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the results from the evaluation of serum inflammatory markers in AD patients have been controversial. Objective: To determine if any differences exist in the monocytic secretion pattern of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients, when compared with healthy age-matched controls. Methods: To evaluate the percentage of peripheral monocytes secreting IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α along with the relative levels of these proteins, a cytofluorimetric analysis was conducted under basal conditions and after lipopolysaccharide-induced cell activation. Results: We found, in AD and MCI patients, a significant raise in the percentage of monocytes producing the studied cytokines (under basal conditions and after the exposure to an inflammatory stimulus), as well as a decreased competence of these cells to respond to inflammatory challenges, when compared with controls. Conclusions: These results agree with a persistent inflammatory status in AD, reinforcing the hypothesis of a progressive impairment of the immune response in this disorder and suggesting that monocytes may be good targets to study the progression from MCI to AD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
