Browsing by Author "ALARCON, R"

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    BLOOD MARKERS IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE - SUBNORMAL ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE IN LYMPHOCYTES AND ERYTHROCYTES
    (ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, 1994) INESTROSA, NC; ALARCON, R; ARRIAGADA, J; DONOSO, A; ALVAREZ, J; CAMPOS, EO
    In patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), we searched for systemic changes in components of the blood as a diagnostic tool. The acetylcholine-related enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were measured in plasma, erythrocytes, platelets and lymphocytes. Results did not show a general effect; notwithstanding, specific cell types presented alterations either in AChE or BuChE but not in both enzymatic activities. In AD patients, AChE of lymphocytes was reduced by 60% compared with the age-matched controls. However, when patients were divided, the sporadic but not the familial subgroup exhibited a significant reduction. In erythrocytes the BuChE activity was reduced by 45% in sporadic AD. The molecular forms of the lymphocyte AChE were characterized by velocity sedimentation. Both globular forms were subnormal, more so the tetrameric G(4) AChE form than the G(2) form.
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    PLATELET OF ALZHEIMER PATIENTS - INCREASED COUNTS AND SUBNORMAL UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION OF [C-14] 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE
    (1993) INESTROSA, NC; ALARCON, R; ARRIAGADA, J; DONOSO, A; ALVAREZ, J
    Platelets are the main source of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) found in plasma. We studied a possible correlation between platelet markers and the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Our results indicate that in AD patients: (a) platelets are elevated, (b) their ability to accumulate 5-HT decreases and, (c) the kinetic parameters of 5-HT uptake are altered (decreased K-m and V-max), compared to non-demented healthy individuals. An aged Down syndrome patient presents even more deviant alterations. Our finding supports the idea that platelets may provide a systemic marker of AD, and eventually be useful for the clinical diagnosis of the disease.