Nc. Inestrosa et al., BLOOD MARKERS IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE - SUBNORMAL ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE IN LYMPHOCYTES AND ERYTHROCYTES, Journal of the neurological sciences, 122(1), 1994, pp. 1-5
In patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), we
searched for systemic changes in components of the blood as a diagnost
ic tool. The acetylcholine-related enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were measured in plasma, erythrocyt
es, platelets and lymphocytes. Results did not show a general effect;
notwithstanding, specific cell types presented alterations either in A
ChE or BuChE but not in both enzymatic activities. In AD patients, ACh
E of lymphocytes was reduced by 60% compared with the age-matched cont
rols. However, when patients were divided, the sporadic but not the fa
milial 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 f
orm than the G(2) form.