Glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase changes as a function of the duration of Alzheimer's disease

J Neurosci Res. 2003 May 15;72(4):520-6. doi: 10.1002/jnr.10599.

Abstract

The identification of biochemical markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may help in the diagnosis of the disease. Previous studies have shown that Abeta(1-42) is decreased, and tau and phospho-tau are increased in AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our own studies have identified glycosylated isoforms of acetylcholinesterase (Glyc-AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (Glyc-BuChE) that are increased in AD CSF. Glyc-AChE is increased in APP (SW) Tg2576 transgenic mice prior to amyloid plaque deposition, which suggests that Glyc-AChE may be an early marker of AD. The aim of this study was to determine whether Glyc-AChE or Glyc-BuChE is increased in CSF at early stages of AD and to compare the levels of these markers with those of Abeta(1-42), tau and phospho-tau. Lumbar CSF was obtained ante mortem from 106 non-AD patients, including 15 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 102 patients with probable AD. Glyc-AChE, tau and phospho-tau were significantly increased in the CSF of AD patients compared to non-neurological disease (NND) controls. Abeta(1-42) was lower in the AD patients than in NND controls. A positive correlation was found between the levels of Glyc-AChE or Glyc-BuChE and disease duration. However, there was no clear correlation between the levels of tau, phospho-tau or Abeta(1-42) and disease duration. The results suggest that Glyc-AChE and Glyc-BuChE are unlikely to be early markers of AD, although they may have value as markers of disease progression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Alzheimer Disease / enzymology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / enzymology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Time Factors
  • tau Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • tau Proteins
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Butyrylcholinesterase