Cholinesterase Inhibitor Affects the Amyloid Precursor Protein Isoforms in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Vol. 19, No. 5-6, 2005

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Original Research Article

Cholinesterase Inhibitor Affects the Amyloid Precursor Protein Isoforms in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
H.C. Liu^{a, d}, C.W. Chi^{c, f}, S.Y. Ko^c, H.C. Wang^d, C.J. Hong^{b, e}, K.N. Lin^{d, g}, P.N. Wang^{a, d}, T.Y. Liu^{c, f}

Departments of
^aNeurology and
^bPsychiatry, and
^cInstitute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine;
^dThe Neurological Institute; Departments of
^ePsychiatry and
^fMedical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital; and
^gDepartment of Psychology, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan

Address of Corresponding Author

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2005;19:345-348 (DOI: 10.1159/000084561)

Key Words

Alzheimer's disease
Amyloid precursor protein
Platelets
Cholinesterase inhibitors

Abstract

An altered platelet ratio of amyloid precursor protein (APP) isoforms might be a diagnostic, predictive, or therapeutic marker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that this ratio might serve as a therapeutic marker for AD patients treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor, galantamine. Thirty-nine patients (mean age 76.6 ± 9.4 years) with AD were treated with galantamine for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks by cognitive testing along with a determination of their platelet APP isoform ratio. Western blotting was performed to calculate the APP isoform ratio. At the end of the treatment, cognitive scores significantly improved, and the ratio of the high-molecular-weight (130 kDa) isoform to the low-molecular-weight (110-106 kDa) isoforms increased. These results suggest that cholinesterase inhibition might be involved in APP processing.

Author Contacts

Dr. Tsung-Yun Liu
Department of Medical Research and Education
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road
Taipei 112 (Taiwan)
Tel. +886 2 28757499, Fax +886 2 28747848, E-Mail tyliu@vghtpe.gov.tw

Article Information

Accepted: November 1, 2004
Published online: March 22, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 23

Medline Abstract (ID 15785036)

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