Ceruloplasmin immunoreactivity in neurodegenerative disorders

Ceruloplasmin (CP) is a 132 kd cuproprotein which, together with transferri n, provides the majority of anti-oxidant capacity in serum. Increased iron deposition and lipid peroxidation in the basal ganglia of subjects with her editary CP deficiency suggest that CP may serve as an anti-oxidant in the b rain as well. The present study compared CP immunoreactivity in brain speci mens from normal controls and subjects with neurodegenerative disorders (Al zheimer's disease [AD], Parkinson's disease [PD], progressive supranuclear palsy [PSP], and Huntington's disease [HD]) (n = 5 per group). The relative intensity of neuronal CP staining and the numbers of CP-stained neurons pe r 25x microscope field were determined in hippocampus (CAI, subiculum, and parahippocampal gyrus), parietal cortex, frontal cortex, substantia nigra, and caudate. CP was detected in both neurons and astrocytes in all specimen s, and in senile plaques and occasional neurofibrillary tangles in AD brain . Neuronal CP staining intensity tended to increase in most AD brain region s, but was statistically significant vs controls only in the CAI region of hippocampus (p = .016). Neuronal CP staining in brain specimens from other neurodegenerative disorders showed a slight but nonsignificant increase vs controls. The numbers of CP-stained neurons per field did not differ betwee n the various neurodegenerative disorders and controls. These results sugge st that a modest increase in neuronal CP content is present in the AD brain , and lesser elevations in neuronal CP occur in the other neurodegenerative disorders in this study. Though CP functions as both an acute phase protei n and an anti-oxidant in peripheral tissues, whether it does so in the brai n remains to be determined.