Affiliations: [a] Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| [b] Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| [c] Statistics Service, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| [d] MAC Memory Clinic and Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| [e] Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| [f] Department of Laboratory Medicine, Research and Development Division, San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina, Rome, Italy
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Anastasia De Luca, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. E-mail: anastasia.deluca@uniroma2.it. and Rosanna Squitti, Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy. Tel.: +3 906 683 7546; E-mail: rosanna.squitti@afar.it.
Abstract: Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a progressive neurodegenerative syndrome. Defects of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) homeostasis are involved in the development of several neurodegenerative diseases and their homeostasis is interconnected by the Cu-protein ceruloplasmin (Cp), responsible for Fe oxidative state. In this study we assessed Fe, transferrin (Trf), ferritin, Cp specific activity (eCp/iCp), Cp/Trf ratio, and Trf saturation in 60 FTLD patients and 43 healthy controls, and discussed the results in relation to Cu homeostasis. The significant decrease of the eCp/iCp in the FTLD patients supports the involvement of Fe imbalance in the onset and progression of FTLD.
