阿尔茨海默病患者血液白细胞尼古丁受体α4和β2 mRNA表达水平变化

Changes in mRNA levels of α_4 and β_2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in blood leukocytes of the patients with Alzheimer's disease

目的研究阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者血液白细胞神经型尼古丁受体(Nicotinicacetylcholinereceptors,nAChR)α4和β2亚单位mRNA相对表达水平是否存在改变。方法采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应法(RT-PCR)检测比较29例AD患者和33例健康对照老年人血液白细胞中nAChR亚单位α4和β2mRNA的相对表达水平。结果AD组nAChR亚单位α4和β2mRNA相对表达水平(与Cyclophilin的百分比分别为1.04±0.16、1.03±0.15)均较正常组(与Cyclophilin的百分比分别为1.41±0.21、2.19±0.16)显著降低(P<0.05);而在年龄和性别的组内比较,均无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论nAChR亚单位α4和β2mRNA在AD患者血液中的相对表达水平较正常对照明显降低。血液白细胞nAChR亚单位的变化也可以考虑作为AD的生物学标志之一。

Objective To investigate the relative mRNA levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors （nAChR） α4 and β2 subunits in blood leukocytes of the patients with Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）. Methods The relative mRNA levels of nAChR α4 and β2 subunits in 29 AD patients and 33 healthy controls were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Results The relative mRNA levels of nAChR α4 and β2 subunits in leukocytes were significantly lower in AD group （percentage in cyclophilin： 1.04 ± 0. 16, 1.03 ±0. 15） than those in control （percentage in cyclophilin： 1.41 ±0. 21,2. 19 ±0. 16） （P 〈0. 05）, but those between age and sex had no siginificance （P 〉0. 05）. Conclusions The mRNA levels of α4 and β2 nAChR subunits in blood leukocytes from AD patients could be decreased, which are not affected by age and sex. The changes in mRNA levels of α4 and β2 nAChR subunits in blood leukocytes might be served as one of biological markers of AD.