Cerebrospinal fluid substance P concentrations are elevated in patients with Alzheimer's disease. (16th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johansson, Per; Almqvist, Erik G.; Wallin, Anders; Johansson, Jan-Ove; Andreasson, Ulf; Blennow, Kaj; Zetterberg, Henrik; Svensson, Johan
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 609(2015)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2015-11-16
• Subjects: Alzheimer's -- disease -- Cerebrospinal fluid -- Dementia -- Substance P -- Orexin A -- Neurotensin; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Cross-sectional study of 60 patients and 20 matched controls. Neuropeptides were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF substance P level was increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Substance P correlated with β-amyloid1–42 ( A β1–42 ) in CSF of AD patients. CSF orexin A level was marginally reduced in other dementias. Abstract: The neuropeptides substance P, orexin A (hypocretin-1) and neurotensin are signaling molecules that influence brain activity. We examined their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels in a study population consisting of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosed with AD dementia upon follow-up ( n = 32), stable MCI (SMCI, n = 13), other dementias ( n = 15), and healthy controls ( n = 20). CSF substance P level was increased in AD patients compared to patients with other dementias and healthy controls ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Patients with other dementia or SMCI had lower CSF orexin A level than AD patients (both P < 0.05) and marginally lower level than healthy controls (both P = 0.05). CSF neurotensin level was similar in all groups. In the total study population ( n = 80), CSF substance P level correlated positively with CSF levels of T-tau and P-tau, and in AD patients ( n = 32), CSF substance P level correlated positively with CSF A β1–42 level. In conclusion, CSF substance P level was elevated in AD patients and correlated with CSF A β1–42 level, a well established marker of senile plaque pathology. The role of low CSF orexin A level in other dementias or SMCI needs to be explored in further studies.