Plasma cytokines profile in older subjects with late onset Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 41; no. 8; pp. 686 - 693
• Main Authors: Zuliani, G., Ranzini, M., Guerra, G., Rossi, L., Munari, M.R., Zurlo, A., Volpato, S., Atti, A.R., Blè, A., Fellin, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - immunology; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Alzheimer's disease; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebrovascular Disorders - diagnosis; Cerebrovascular Disorders - immunology; Cerebrovascular Disorders - psychology; Cytokines - blood; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia, Vascular - diagnosis; Dementia, Vascular - immunology; Dementia, Vascular - psychology; Elderly people; Female; Humans; IL-1β; IL-6; Inflammation - diagnosis; Inflammation - immunology; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-1beta - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Late onset; Likelihood Functions; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Status Schedule; Neurology; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Plasma citokynes; Proteins; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reference Values; Risk Factors; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Vascular dementia; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Vascular dementia; TNF-α; Alzheimer’s disease; IL-1β; IL-6; Plasma citokynes; Human; Nervous system diseases; Late; Alzheimer disease; Cytokine; Cardiovascular disease; Interleukin 1β; Cerebral disorder; Interleukin 6; Vascular disease; Age of onset; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Alzheimer's disease; Cerebrovascular disease; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.02.008

Some cytokines have been involved in the pathogenesis of late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). A possible increase in plasma cytokines levels has been reported in LOAD and vascular dementia (VD), but the results of previous studies are conflicting. We evaluated the plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 in four groups of older individuals: 60 patients with LOAD, 80 patients with VD, 40 subjects with cerebrovascular disease but without dementia (CDND), and 42 controls (C). By analysis of covariance (adjustment for age, gender, coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption) we found that: • IL-1β was higher in VD, LOAD, and CDND compared with controls ( p < 0.005). • TNF-α was higher in VD and LOAD compared to C ( p < 0.05), and in VD compared to LOAD ( p < 0.03). • IL-6 was higher in VD compared with LOAD ( p < 0.03). No differences in IL-10 values were found (Kruskal–Wallis, Asymp. Sig. 0.14). By logistic regression analysis, we demonstrated that high levels (defined as above the median) of IL-1β and TNF-α, but not of IL-6, were associated with increased likelihood of having VD and LOAD compared to C, while high IL-6 levels were associated with a increased probability of having VD, compared with LOAD. Our study support the notion of a low-grade systemic inflammation in older patients with LOAD or VD, characterized by an increase in plasma IL-1β and TNF-α levels. The high IL-6 levels found in VD might be not a specific finding, as it might come from several conditions including atherosclerosis and related vascular risk factors, comorbidity, and frailty.