The association of angiotensin-converting enzyme with biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
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ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Lower angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity could increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as ACE functions to degrade amyloid-? (A?). Therefore, we investigated whether ACE protein and activity levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were associated with CSF A?, total tau (tau) and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau). METHODS:We included 118 subjects from our memory clinic-based Amsterdam Dementia Cohort (mean age 66?±?8 years) with subjective memory complaints (n?=?40) or AD (n?=?78), who did not use antihypertensive drugs. We measured ACE protein levels (ng/ml) and activity (RFU) in CSF and serum, and amyloid ?1-42, tau and ptau (pg/ml) in CSF. RESULTS:Cross-sectional regression analyses showed that ACE protein level and activity in CSF and serum were lower in patients with AD compared to controls. Lower CSF ACE protein level, and to a lesser extent serum ACE protein level and CSF ACE activity, were associated with lower CSF A?, indicating more brain A? pathology; adjusted regression coefficients (B) (95% CI) per SD increase were 0.09 (0.04; 0.15), 0.06 (0.00; 0.12) and 0.05 (0.00; 0.11), respectively. Further, lower CSF ACE protein level was associated with lower CSF tau and ptau levels; adjusted B's (95% CI) per SD increase were 0.15 (0.06; 0.25) and 0.17 (0.10; 0.25), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:These results strengthen the hypothesis that ACE degrades A?. This could suggest that lowering ACE levels by for example ACE-inhibitors might have adverse consequences for patients with, or at risk for AD.
SUBMITTER: Jochemsen HM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4075229 | biostudies-literature | 2014
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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