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Alzheimer′s disease and granulocyte density diversity
Author(s) -
Järemo Petter,
Milovanovic Micha,
Buller Caroline,
Nilsson Staffan,
Winblad Bengt
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12072
Subject(s) - granulocyte , eosinophil , percoll , microglia , immunology , alzheimer's disease , dementia , pathology , medicine , disease , biology , inflammation , biochemistry , centrifugation , asthma
Background The current study investigates circulating eosinophils and neutrophils in Alzheimer′s ( AD ) type dementia with respect to density (kg/L). The existence of β‐amyloid plaques in the brain is a feature of AD . Sporadic scientific reports indicate that the disease affects circulating neutrophils. In contrast, numerous publications investigate inflammatory reactions in AD brains. Locally, the plaques evoke a substantial inflammatory response involving activated microglia and astrocytes. Methods Subjects with probable AD ( n = 39) were included and compared with elderly individuals ( n = 22) lacking apparent memory problems. We sampled 10 mL venous blood in citrate. Granulocytes were separated according to density in linear Percoll™ gradients. Subsequently, the gradients were divided into density subfractions ( n = 16). In every fraction, determination of eosinophil and neutrophil counts was carried out. Results AD sufferers displayed less granulocytes in fractions nos. 13‐15 containing light cells. For these fractions, the P ‐values proved to be ( P < 0·001; not significant; P = 0·03) and ( P = 0·01; P = 0·01; not significant), for eosinophils and neutrophils, respectively. Conclusions The present work describes that less circulating light granulocytes are a feature of AD demented individuals. It is to hypothesize that it is a sign of impaired granulocyte turnover and cell damage. It is concluded that AD affects inflammatory cells in the periphery and that the behaviour of granulocytes in dementia is worthwhile further studies.