POSTTRANSLATIONAL CHANGES IN BAND-3 IN ADULT AND AGING BRAIN FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH ERGOLOID MESYLATES, COMPARISON TO CHANGES OBSERVED INALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Band 3, the most heavily used anion transport system in vertebrates, a ges as cells and tissues age. Posttranslational changes in band 3 in a dult and aging brain were investigated following treatment with ergolo id mesylates and compared to changes observed in Alzheimer's disease ( AD). The study was conducted in a double blind fashion and was decoded only after the study was completed. The following postranslational ch anges in brain band 3 occur with age: increased breakdown of band 3; d ecreased phosphorylation; and decreased anion transport. Autoantibodie s to senescent cell antigen (SCA) synthetic peptides residue 538-554 a nd 812-827 increase with age, but antibodies to the former peptide are significantly reduced in ergoloid mesylate treated old mice. This is a critical transport region of band 3. Results showed that aged/altere d band 3 increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) as determined by quanti tative antibody binding. Ergoloid mesylates altered the age-related po sttranslational changes as follows: the observed age-related decrease in brain band 3 was partially reversed and anion transport was increas ed. This is consistent with the data indicating decreased autoantibodi es to a critical anion transport segment of band 3. Aging appears to r esult in damage to a critical transport region of the anion transporte r which is reflected by decreased anion transport, increased breakdown , alteration of the molecule itself, and an increase in autoantibodies to the region. Ergoloid mesylates seem to protect against this damage .