Expression of Monomeric C-Reactive Protein in Infarcted Brain Tissue from Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Turk Patoloji Derg. 2017;33(1):25-29. doi: 10.5146/tjpath.2016.01374.

Abstract

Objective: We have previously shown that monomeric-C-reactive protein is deposited in significant quantities within the brain parenchyma after stroke. Since we have recently identified a possible role of this protein in supporting neurodegeneration and aberrant vascular development we identified a small group of post-mortem brain samples from individuals who had Alzheimer's disease and evidence of tissue infarction/ micro-infarction on histological examination.

Material and method: We used immunohistochemistry staining to identify the monomeric-C-reactive protein expressed in the infarcted brain tissues.

Results: We showed that monomeric-C-reactive protein deposition was highest in those regions affected by stroke or vascular disruption, and that within those same areas, there was more interaction and co-localization between major classical proteins of neurodegeneration (β-amyloid and tau).

Conclusion: We hypothesise that vascular disruption and concomitant release of monomeric-C-reactive protein within the brain tissue could exacerbate ongoing neurological damage via stimulation of neuro-inflammation and from direct consequences of its action on both neuronal and vascular cells.

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / biosynthesis
  • Brain Infarction / complications
  • Brain Infarction / pathology*
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • C-Reactive Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • tau Proteins / analysis
  • tau Proteins / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • tau Proteins
  • C-Reactive Protein