Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2009 Dec;116(12):1651-6. doi: 10.1007/s00702-009-0325-7. Epub 2009 Oct 7.
Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive impairment. Studies have shown that Hcy may have direct and indirect neurotoxicity effects. The aim of the study was to investigate serum Hcy concentration in patients with probable AD with age-matched controls and to determine whether there was an association between serum Hcy and C-reactive protein concentration in patients with probable AD. We also aimed to determine whether there was an association between serum tHcy concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with probable AD. Serum concentration of total Hcy was determined by the fluorescence polarization immunoassay on the AxSYM system, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was determined by means of particle-enhanced immunonephelometry with the use of BN II analyzer. Cognitive impairment was tested by the MMSE score. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject included in the study. Age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean serum tHcy concentration in the control group of subjects was 12.60 mumol/L, while in patients with probable AD the mean serum tHcy concentration was significantly higher than 16.15 mumol/L (p < 0.01). A significant negative association between serum tHcy concentration and cognitive impairment tested by the MMSE score in patients with probable AD was determined (r = -0.61634; p < 0.001). Positive, although not significant correlation between CRP and serum tHcy concentrations in patients with AD, was observed. Increased tHcy concentration in patients with probable AD, and the established negative correlation between serum tHcy concentration and cognitive damage tested by MMSE score in the same group of patients, suggests the possible independent role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of AD and cognitive impairment associated with this disease.
血浆同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）水平升高与阿尔茨海默病（AD）和认知障碍有关。研究表明，Hcy 可能具有直接和间接的神经毒性作用。本研究旨在调查可能患有 AD 的患者与年龄匹配的对照组之间的血清 Hcy 浓度，并确定可能患有 AD 的患者血清 Hcy 与 C 反应蛋白（CRP）浓度之间是否存在相关性。我们还旨在确定可能患有 AD 的患者血清总 Hcy 浓度与认知障碍之间是否存在相关性。血清总 Hcy 浓度通过 AxSYM 系统上的荧光偏振免疫测定法确定，血清 CRP（CRP）浓度通过使用 BN II 分析仪进行颗粒增强免疫比浊法确定。认知障碍通过 MMSE 评分进行测试。为研究中纳入的每位受试者计算体重指数（BMI）。两组之间的年龄、收缩压和舒张压以及 BMI 无显著差异。对照组受试者的平均血清 tHcy 浓度为 12.60umol/L，而可能患有 AD 的患者的平均血清 tHcy 浓度明显高于 16.15umol/L（p <0.01）。确定了可能患有 AD 的患者中血清 tHcy 浓度与 MMSE 评分测试的认知障碍之间存在显著负相关（r = -0.61634；p <0.001）。观察到 AD 患者 CRP 和血清 tHcy 浓度之间存在正相关，尽管不显著。可能患有 AD 的患者中 tHcy 浓度升高，以及同一组患者中 MMSE 评分测试的血清 tHcy 浓度与认知损害之间建立的负相关，提示 Hcy 在 AD 的发病机制和与该疾病相关的认知障碍中可能具有独立作用。
