Changes in caspase expression in Alzheimer's disease: Comparison with development and aging

Changes in caspase-2 and -3 protein levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brai ns were assessed in comparison with their expression in development and agi ng. The protein levels of caspase-2 and -3 were significantly increased in AD brains, caspase-2 in the particulate fraction and caspase-3 in both the cytosolic and particulate fractions, compared with controls. Immunoblot ana lysis of brain extracts from embryonic day 19 (E19) to postnatal 96-week-ol d rats indicated that caspase-3 levels were high from E19 to 2 weeks, while caspase-2 remained high from 4 to 96 weeks, indicating that the expression of caspase-2 and -3 is differentially regulated during development and agi ng. These results suggest that caspase-2 and -3 are upregulated in AD and t hat the changes in AD are different from those observed in senescent brains . (C) 1999 Academic Press.