THE EXPRESSION OF CREATINE-KINASE ISOENZYMES IN NEOCORTEX OF PATIENTSWITH NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS - ALZHEIMERS AND PICKS-DISEASE

Creatine kinase (CIC) activity was found decreased in the brains of pa tients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Pick's disease (PD). However, the decrease of total CK activity in AD was more pronounced than in P D. Analysis of the activity of two CR isoforms, BCK and ubiquitous mit ochondrial CK, demonstrated that the decrease of total CK activity in AD and PD was related to the decrease of BCK activity. The decline of CK activity both in AD and PD correlated well with the decline of the content of immunoreactive BCR in brain extracts. The BCK mRNA level in AD and PD was not significantly different from control patients and c ould not be the primary reason for decreases in CK content and activit y. The decreased level of BCH in AD and PD brains might be caused by p osttranscriptional events, which could affect the translation of BCK m RNA and/or lead to the inactivation and degradation of the enzyme. Bec ause CK is sensitive to oxidative modification, it is possible that th e changes observed in this study result from free radical damage. (C) 1997 Academic Press.