PROTEIN-KINASE-C ACTIVITY AND PROTEIN-LEVELS IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been reported to have abno rmalities in the levels and activities of protein kinase C (PKC) in br ain and other tissues. We have measured Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-d ependent PKC activities and levels in cerebral cortex from frontal, mo tor, temporal and parietal regions, as well as in leukocytes and plate lets from AD patients and controls. No significant differences in PKC histone H1 phosphotransferase activity were seen in frontal, motor, te mporal or parietal cortex, or in leukocytes and platelets from AD pati ents and controls. Elevated PKC protein was present in cytosolic fract ions from frontal cortex, but not in other brain regions, or in leukoc ytes and platelets. These data suggest that abnormalities of PKC phosp horylating activity are absent in AD. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.