ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS CO-LOCALIZED WITH ASTROCYTES AND MICROGLIAL CELLS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE BRAIN

In the previous study [Takeda et al. (1996) Neurosci Lett 221: 17-21], we reported that the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the ex ternal space of neuronal perikarya (extraneuroperikaryal AGE deposits) were significantly abundant in the Alzheimer's brain. In this study, we investigated the spatial relationship of the extraneuroperikaryal A GE (carbocymethyllysine and pentosidine) deposits in astrocytes and mi croglial cells in the Alzheimer's disease brain using double immunolab elling for AGEs and astrocyte or microglial cell markers. Most of the extraneuroperikaryal AGE deposits were co-localized with glial fibrill ary acidic protein-positive astrocytes, AGE deposit-bearing astrocytes also contained Gomori-positive granules. Furthermore, some of the ext raneuroperikaryal AGE deposits were co-localized with microglial cells . These extraneuroperikaryal AGEs may activate astrocyte and microglia , and play a role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.