This study describes apparently paradoxical P-selectin reactions in moderate AD. While soluble P-selectin was higher in the disease group, membrane-attached P-selectin without agonist stimulation was no different between the disease and control groups. In contrast, AD was linked to lower platelet reactivity. The current findings encourage further research into this P-selectin paradox and its relevance for AD and, perhaps, other types of dementia as well.
Platelets contain a substantial quantity of amyloid-precursor protein (APP) and β-amyloid. However, despite the large importance of APP and β-amyloid to dementia, little is known about platelets in sporadic Alzheimer dementia (AD). Furthermore, platelet heterogeneity influences human pathology and has been described to affect the progression of AD. This study investigated AD platelets with respect to density diversity and in vivo activity associated with density sub-fractions. We included 39 AD patients and used, as controls, 22 elderly individuals without apparent memory disorder. A continuous Percoll™ gradient covering the density span 1.04-1.09 kg/l provided the basis to divide platelets of whole blood into density fractions (n = 16). All platelet populations were evaluated accordingly. Platelet counts were determined electronically. A flow-cytometer was put to use to measure surface-bound fibrinogen as a measure of platelet in vivo activity. Samples obtained from patients diagnosed with sporadic AD contained platelets (fractions numbers 4-16) that circulated with significantly less surface-bound fibrinogen, i.e., their platelet activation in vivo was reduced, compared with controls. In particular, highly significant differences (p < 0.001) were obtained for the six less dense platelet populations (fractions numbers 11-16) when comparing sporadic AD with controls. In contrast, the densest AD platelets in fractions numbers 1-3 did not differ significantly from control cells with respect to in vivo platelet-bound fibrinogen. It is concluded that sporadic AD is characterized by lower density platelet populations that, while circulating, exhibited reduced activation. The clinical significance of this finding is unclear but these results suggest the importance of platelet heterogeneity in dementia as a topic for further investigation.
Background The current study investigates circulating eosinophils and neutrophils in Alzheimer′s (AD) type dementia with respect to density (kg/L). The existence of b-amyloid plaques in the brain is a feature of AD. Sporadic scientific reports indicate that the disease affects circulating neutrophils. In contrast, numerous publications investigate inflammatory reactions in AD brains. Locally, the plaques evoke a substantial inflammatory response involving activated microglia and astrocytes.
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