Alzheimer Disease: Hong Y

Zhou XH, Yue YH, Miao HJ, Hong Y, Ka-Bi N. · The First Cadres Ward, the First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University. Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830054 People's Republic of China. · Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi. · Pubmed #18683150 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein gene (LRP) 766C/T polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Xinjiang Uygurs and Hans populations. METHODS: Those included in the study were > or = 50 years of age and of either Xinjiang Uygur or Han descents. Two hundred and nine individuals had AD and 220 were healthy controls. They were recruited according to ADRDA-NINCDS criteriaîThe polymorphisms of the LRP gene were determined by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. The case-control analysis was adopted to analyze the frequencies of genotypes and alleles. RESULTS: (1) The distribution of genotypes or alleles of LRP gene had significant differences between the AD group and the control group in both the Xinjiang Uygurs and Hans populations (P < 0.05). (2) The frequencies of genotypes and alleles were significantly different between the Han AD and Han control group (P < 0.05). (3) The frequencies of genotypes and alleles in those > or = 65 years were significantly different from that in others (P < 0.05). There was a significant increase of AD in the C allele carriers (OR=1.98, P < 0.05). (4) The frequencies of the CC genotype and C allele in female AD patients were higher than that in female controls (P < 0.05), and the C allele carriers had significant increase of AD (OR=2.927, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The LRP 766C/T polymorphisms were significantly different between the Chinese Xinjiang Uygur and Han populations. The LRP 766C/T polymorphisms might be associated with AD in the Han population, in females and those of > or = 65 years old.

Lu Y, Lv Y, Ye Y, Wang Y, Hong Y, Fortini ME, Zhong Y, Xie Z. · State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China 100084. · FASEB J. · Pubmed #17428965 links to  free full text

Abstract: It has been shown that presenilin is involved in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis in neurons, including regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ storage. From studies of primary cultures and cell lines, however, its role in stress-induced responses is still controversial. In the present study we analyzed the effects of presenilin mutations on membrane currents and synaptic functions in response to stress using an in vivo preparation. We examined voltage-gated K+ and Ca2+ currents at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) with voltage-clamp recordings. Our data showed that both currents were generally unaffected by loss-of-function or Alzheimer's disease (AD) -associated presenilin mutations under normal or stress conditions induced by heat shock (HS) or ER stress. In larvae expressing the mutant presenilins, prolonged Ca2+ tail current, reflecting slower deactivation kinetics of Ca2+ channels, was observed 1 day after stress treatments were terminated. It was further demonstrated that the L-type Ca2+ channel was specifically affected under these conditions. Moreover, synaptic plasticity at the NMJ was reduced in larvae expressing the mutant presenilins. At the behavioral level, memory in adult flies was impaired in the presenilin mutants 1 day after HS. The results show that presenilin function is important during the poststress period and its impairment contributes to memory dysfunction observed during adaptation to normal conditions after stress. Our findings suggest a new stress-related mechanism by which presenilin may be implicated in the neuropathology of AD.