Affiliations: [a] Laboratory of Preclinical Studies of Higher Standard, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland | [b] Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy | [c] Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain | [d] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Urszula Wojda, Laboratory of Preclinical Studies of Higher Standard, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteur 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland. Tel.: +48 22 5892 578; Fax: +48 22 5892 141; u.wojda@nencki.gov.pl
Abstract: In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), molecular changes are observed not only in patients’ neurons but also in peripheral cells, such as blood lymphocytes. These include changes in the level of oxidative stress markers, mitochondria impairment, and aberrant cell cycle regulation in AD blood lymphocytes. While the concepts of early causes of AD are currently highly controversial, these findings provide support for the cell cycle hypothesis of AD pathomechanism and emphasize the systemic nature of the disease. Moreover, because of difficulties in studying dynamic processes in the human brain, lymphocytes seem to be useful for readout of AD molecular mechanisms. In addition, lymphocytes as easily accessible human cells have potential diagnostic value. We summarize current perspectives for the development of new therapeutic strategies based on oxidative stress and cell cycle dysregulation in AD, and for diagnostic methodologies involving new markers in AD lymphocytes.
