Altered Distribution of the Gangliosides GM1 and GM2 in Alzheimer%26apos;s Disease

作者：Pernber Z; Blennow K; Bogdanovic N; Mansson J E; Blomqvist M^*

来源：Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2012, 33(2-3): 174-188.

DOI：10.1159/000338181

• Glycosphingolipids
• Alzheimer%26apos
• s disease
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Immunohistochemistry
• Temporal lobe
• Frontal lobe
• Cortex

Background: Alzheimer%26apos;s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder where beta-amyloid tends to aggregate and form plaques. Lipid raft-associated ganglioside GM1 has been suggested to facilitate beta-amyloid aggregation; furthermore, GM1 and GM2 are increased in lipid rafts isolated from cerebral cortex of AD cases. Aim/Method: The distribution of GM1 and GM2 was studied by immunohistochemistry in the frontal and temporal cortex of AD cases. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was included as a contrast group. Results: The distribution of GM1 and GM2 changes during the process of AD (n = 5) and FTD (n = 3) compared to controls (n = 5). Altered location of the GM1-positive small circular structures seems to be associated with myelin degradation. In the grey matter, the staining of GM1-positive plasma membranes might reflect neuronal loss in the AD/FTD tissue. The GM1-positive compact bundles were only visible in cells located in the AD frontal grey matter, possibly reflecting raft formation of GM1 and thus a pathological connection. Furthermore, our results suggest GM2 to be enriched within vesicles of pyramidal neurons of the AD/FTD brain. Conclusion: Our study supports the biochemical finding of ganglioside accumulation in cellular membranes of AD patients and shows a redistribution of these molecules.

• 出版日期2012