Abstract
Apoptotic-like changes in the neocortex of control, pathologically aged and Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases were investigated. There was no increase in labeling or change in localization of labeling that distinguished between these cases for active caspase-3, -8, -9, Bax, Bcl-2 or TRADD. Bax, Bcl-2 and TRADD mRNA levels also differed little between case types, although there were small but significant decreases in Bax mRNA levels in AD compared to control cases and Bcl-2 mRNA in AD cases compared to pathologically aged and control cases. There was no difference in the percentage of apoptotic-like nuclei between these cases, except for a small but significant decrease in the inferior temporal gyrus of AD cases relative to controls. Nuclei observed within or adjacent to beta-amyloid plaques were rarely abnormal, and neurons bearing neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) did not have abnormal nuclei. Apoptosis may not play a major role in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration of AD.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Aging / metabolism
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Aging / pathology*
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Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
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Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
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Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
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Apoptosis / physiology*
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Caspases / genetics
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Caspases / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Cell Nucleus / pathology
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DNA Fragmentation / physiology
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neocortex / metabolism*
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Neocortex / pathology*
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Neocortex / physiopathology
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Neurofibrillary Tangles / metabolism
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Neurofibrillary Tangles / pathology
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Neurons / metabolism
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Neurons / pathology
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Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
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Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / genetics
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein / genetics
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism
Substances
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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RNA, Messenger
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins
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bcl-2-Associated X Protein
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Caspases