Levels of retinal IAPP are altered in Alzheimer ´s disease patients and correlate with vascular changes and hippocampal IAPP levels

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) forms toxic aggregates in the brain of patients with Alzheimer ’s disease (AD). Whether IAPP also affects the retina in these patients is still unknown. Levels of IAPP in soluble and insoluble homogenate fractions of retina and hippocampus from AD and non-demented controls (NC) were analysed using ELISA. Number of pericytes and vessel length were determined b y analysis of immunostained retina and hippocampus. Insoluble retinal fractions of AD patients contained lower levels of unmodified IAPP, whereas soluble retinal fraction contained increased levels of the same.
Source: Neurobiology of Aging - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research