Lugaresi Alessandra, Di Iorio Angelo, Iarlori Carla, Reale Marcella, De Luca Giovanna, Sparvieri Eleonora, Michetti Alessia, Conti Pio, Gambi Domenico, Abate Giuseppe, Paganelli Roberto
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Section of Neurology, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti, Italy.
Exp Gerontol. 2004 Apr;39(4):653-7. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2003.08.012.
Cytokines appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Their modulation by treatment has been investigated only in a few studies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) on Interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in AD patients. IL-4 levels were measured by ELISA on peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures in the presence or absence of Concanavalin A or Phytohaemagglutinin. Linear regression analysis shows that patients who have been treated, have higher levels of IL-4 independently from age, gender and comorbidity. The increased production of IL-4 in AChEI treated patients might represent an additional mechanism through which AChEI act on AD progression.
