The calcium response of human T lymphocytes is decreased in aging but increased in Alzheimer’s dementia

Background: A significant increase in the [Ca 2+] i response of single T lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation with phytohemagglutinin is reported for 27 Alzheimer patients compared with 27 healthy gender- and age-matched control subjects, regardless of gender. Methods: The [Ca 2+] i signals of T lym...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 1999-03, Vol.45 (6), p.737-742
Main Authors: Sulger, Jutta, Dumais-Huber, Claude, Zerfass, Rainer, Henn, Fritz A, Aldenhoff, Josef B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aging
Aging - metabolism
Alzheimer Disease - metabolism
Alzheimer’s disease
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium - metabolism
Cell Death
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Female
Humans
intracellular calcium
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
mitogen phytohemagglutinin
Mitogens - pharmacokinetics
Neurology
Neurons - metabolism
Phytohemagglutinins - pharmacokinetics
single human T lymphocytes
T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
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Summary:Background: A significant increase in the [Ca 2+] i response of single T lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation with phytohemagglutinin is reported for 27 Alzheimer patients compared with 27 healthy gender- and age-matched control subjects, regardless of gender. Methods: The [Ca 2+] i signals of T lymphocytes were assessed using the Fura-2-AM method. Results: In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) the reaction pattern is similar to that seen in a group of 27 young healthy control subjects who exhibited a marked [Ca 2+] i rise after stimulation. During normal aging the reaction pattern of T cells is significantly attenuated in comparison to that found in young subjects. In healthy control subjects differences in age-related changes in calcium homeostasis are highly significant among women, young women showing the most intense cell response. Conclusions: The elevation of [Ca 2+] i appears to be a prerequisite for apoptosis, which is suggested to be involved in the neuronal death occurring in AD. An increased [Ca 2+] i in AD is consistent with processes leading to neurodegeneration in AD.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3223(98)00218-2