Increased Myeloperoxidase Plasma Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tzikas, Stergios^a | Schlak, Dennis^b | Sopova, Kateryna^c | Gatsiou, Aikaterini^c | Stakos, Dimitrios^g | Stamatelopoulos, Kimon^f | Stellos, Konstantinos^{c; d; *; 1} | Laske, Christoph^{e; h; i; *; 1}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Cardiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Marienhospital Herne, Herne, Germany | [b] Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany | [c] Vascular Inflammation Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre of Molecular Medicine, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany | [d] Department of Cardiology, Centre of Internal Medicine III, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany | [e] Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany | [f] Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece | [g] Cardiology Clinic, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece | [h] Section for Dementia Research, Hertie-Institute of Clinical Brain Research and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany | [i] DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Christoph Laske, MD, Section for Dementia Research, Calwer Street 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Tel.: +49 70712983444; E-mail: christoph.laske@med.uni-tuebingen.de; Konstantinos Stellos, MD, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Tel.: +49 17696543101; E-mail: konstantinos.stellos@kgu.de.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

Abstract: Background:Increasing evidence supports the role of cardiovascular risk factors in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective:In the present pilot study, we investigated plasma concentrations of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and its possible association with plasma amyloid-β (Aβ)1-42/1-40 ratio in AD patients and elderly healthy controls. Methods:The study sample included 28 AD patients and 27 elderly individuals with a normal cognitive status as a control group. The Mini-Mental Status Examination was used to determine the global cognition. MPO, Aβ1-40, and Aβ1-42 plasma concentrations were measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assays. Results:AD patients showed significantly higher plasma concentrations of MPO in comparison to healthy elderly controls (AD versus healthy elderly controls (mean ± SD): 132.8 ± 114.8 ng/mL versus 55.0 ± 42.6 ng/mL; p = 0.002). MPO plasma concentrations showed a significant positive correlation in the whole sample with the presence of AD (ρ = 0.428, p < 0.001) and its stage (ρ = 0.331; p = 0.013) as well as with plasma concentrations of Aβ1-42 (ρ = 0.406; p = 0.004) and Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio (ρ = 0.354; p = 0.013). In a binary logistic regression model, plasma MPO concentrations were independently associated with the presence of AD (p = 0.014). Conclusion:AD patients showed significantly increased plasma levels of MPO, which could be an important molecular link between atherosclerosis and AD. Further studies should evaluate whether MPO may also be a useful biomarker and potential new treatment target in AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-β, dementia, myeloperoxidase

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-131469

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 557-564, 2014