Open AccessRESEARCH ARTICLE: Up‐regulation of Adenosine Receptors in the Frontal Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease
Author(s) -
Albasanz José L.,
Perez Sandra,
Barrachina Marta,
Ferrer Isidro,
Martín Mairena
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00112.x
Subject(s) - adenosine , receptor , adenosine receptor , purinergic signalling , medicine , endocrinology , radioligand , adenosine a2b receptor , neurotransmitter receptor , biology , western blot , alzheimer's disease , glutamate receptor , temporal cortex , neurotransmitter , neuroscience , biochemistry , disease , gene , agonist
Adenosine receptors are G‐protein coupled receptors which modulate neurotransmitter release, mainly glutamate. Adenosine A 1 and A 2A receptors were studied in post‐mortem human cortex in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age‐matched controls. Total adenosine A 1 receptor number, determined by radioligand binding assay, using [ 3 H]DPCPX, was significantly increased in AD cases in early and advanced stages without differences with the progression of the disease. A significant increase of A 1 R (37 kDa) levels was also observed by Western blot in early and advanced stages of AD. In addition, increased numbers of adenosine A 2A receptors were observed in AD samples as determined by a binding assay using [ 3 H]ZM 241385 as a radioligand and by Western blot. Increased binding and protein expression levels of adenosine receptors were not associated with increased mRNA levels coding A 1 and A 2A receptors. Finally, increased A 1 and A 2A receptor‐mediated response was observed. These results show up‐regulation of adenosine A 1 and A 2A receptors in frontal cortex in AD, associated with sensitization of the corresponding transduction pathways.