Okinaka Y, Shinagawa Y, Claussen C, Gul S, Matsui I, Matsui Y, Taguchi A. RNA Analysis of Circulating Leukocytes in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.
J Alzheimers Dis 2024;
97:1673-1683. [PMID:
38277293 PMCID:
PMC10894574 DOI:
10.3233/jad-230874]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Background
One of the key symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the impairment of short-term memory. Hippocampal neurogenesis is essential for short-term memory and is known to decrease in patients with AD. Impaired short-term memory and impaired neurogenesis are observed in aged mice alongside changes in RNA expression of gap junction and metabolism-related genes in circulating leukocytes. Moreover, after penetrating the blood-brain barrier via the SDF1/CXCR4 axis, circulating leukocytes directly interact with hippocampal neuronal stem cells via gap junctions.
Objective
Evaluation of RNA expression profiles in circulating leukocytes in patients with AD.
Methods
Patients with AD (MMSE≧23, n = 10) and age-matched controls (MMSE≧28, n = 10) were enrolled into this study. RNA expression profiles of gap junction and metabolism-related genes in circulating leukocytes were compared between the groups (jRCT: 1050210166).
Results
The ratios of gap junction and metabolism-related genes were significantly different between patients with AD and age-matched controls. However, due to large inter-individual variations, there were no statistically significant differences in the level of single RNA expression between these groups.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest a potential connection between the presence of circulating leukocytes and the process of hippocampal neurogenesis in individuals with AD. Analyzing RNA in circulating leukocytes holds promise as a means to offer novel insights into the pathology of AD, distinct from conventional markers.
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