Antimicroglia antibodies in sera of Alzheimer's disease patients

Background: Immune mechanisms seem to contribute to the degenerative proces s in Alzheimer's disease, Antibodies directed against animal brain tissue w ere found in sera of Alzheimer's patients. Methods: Antibodies were measured in ser a of 25 Alzheimer's patients and a comparison group of 25 age- and sex-matched controls. Sera were tested for their immuno-logical response to various brain structures of postmortem hu man brain tissue. Results: In 8 patients with Alzheimer's disease perinuclear antibodies dire cted against microglia were found in amygdala and frontal cortex. In the co ntrol group I subject showed antibody binding to microglia. Conclusions: Perinuclear antibodies to microglia may play a role in tissue destruction of Alzheimer's disease. These data add to the evidence that imm une mechanisms play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. ( C) 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry.