9 research outputs found
Adenosine A2A receptor expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with mild cognitive impairment
No full textAdenosine suppresses immune responses through the adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR). We evaluated the expression of A2AR in blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and controls in order to verify if it may help distinguish different forms of cognitive decline. There was a significant linear increase in both mRNA levels and receptor density from multiple cognitive domain MCI (mcd-MCI) to amnestic MCI (a-MCI), spanning through AD and controls, without any significant difference between the latter two groups of subjects. These data, which need to be confirmed in a larger number of patients, suggest that expression of A2AR in PBMCs may be a valuable means of differentiating a-MCI and mcd-MC
Lesioni carotidee asintomatiche in anziani sani : identificazione di un profilo di suscettibilità genetica
No full textAsymptomatic carotid plaque and pro-inflammatory genetic profile in the elderly
No full textBackground and aims: Several indices of subclinical atherosclerosis (ATS), including ultrasound (US) scan of carotid vessels, have received attention in clinical studies of the general population. Since inflammation takes part in the development of ATS, we studied the relationship between US imaging of carotid vessels and genetic predisposition to inflammation, in both elderly subjects without acknowledged CV risk factors and elderly subjects with acknowledged CV risk factors undergoing primary prevention. Methods: Seventy-two elderly subjects (aged between 65-84) were divided into three groups on the basis of cardiovascular (CV) risk (GO: 0-9%, G1: 10-20% and G2: >20%) according to the NCEP Adult Panel III Report. They underwent US evaluation of carotid arteries and were analyzed for single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes of a number of cytokines: TNF-alpha TGF-beta 1, IL-10, IL-6 and IFN-gamma. Results: Asymptomatic carotid plaque (ACP) was detected in 19 subjects, not only in those belonging to the major risk group (36.8%) but also in those at lower risk (63.2%). In these subjects, we found a different genotype distribution in the polymorphisms of IFN-gamma (+874), IL-6 (-174) and IL-10 (-1082). The TT +874 IFN-gamma and GG -174 IL-6 high producer-genotypes and the AA IL-10 low producer-genotype were indeed more frequent in the ACP group (IFN-gamma. p=0.000 and IL-6: p=0.004). We found no correlation between genotype and carotid intima-media thickening. Conclusions: Our data suggest that, in the elderly, inflammation-associated polymorphisms are related to atherogenesis and that the finding of ACP on US scan can be valuable in identifying subjects at risk for CV events, even if they lack traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as an increase in IMT
-308 (G/A) single nucleotide polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene and the risk of depression in elderly
No full textEspressione dei recettori adenosinici A2A in cellule mononucleate periferiche di pazienti Mild Cognitive Impairment
No full textEvoluzione della placca carotidea asintomatica in anziani sani : identificazione di un profilo di suscettibilità
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The -308 (G/A) single nucleotide polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene and the risk of major depression in the elderly
No full textOBJECTIVE : the immune system (IS) plays a key role in the mechanisms underlying major depression (MD) and pro-inflammatory cytokines seem to be particularly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. There is growing evidence of a relationship between commonly studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes and an increased risk of MD.The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the -308(G/A) SNP in the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene and late-life MD in elderly people without dementia. METHODS : blood samples were obtained from 50 subjects enrolled at the Geriatric Department of the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, Italy, after screening with the geriatric depression scale (GDS > or = 15) and mini-mental state evaluation (MMSE > or = 24). The -308 (G/A) SNP was genotyped by SSP-PCR amplification. Two hundred and forty age-matched healthy volunteers were taken as the control group. RESULTS : genotype and allele distributions in patients with MD were significantly different from those of the controls. In subjects affected by MD we found a higher percentage of the GG genotype (84 vs. 68,3%; p = 0.007) and thus of the G allele (92 vs. 81,9%; p = 0.05).The GG genotype was associated with a greater risk of developing the disease (OR 2.433, CI 1.09-5.43). CONCLUSIONS : our study suggests that the -308 (G/A) polymorphism in the TNF-alpha gene could play a role in determining susceptibility to MD. An activation of the TNF-alpha system could contribute to the development of MD in the elderl
