Gene expression analysis of BACE1 in patients with Alzheimer's Disease

• Grant number: 14/06580-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Regina Cominetti
• Grantee: Matheus da Silva Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to the lack of effective treatments and an increase in life expectancy, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. The neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and senile plaques formed by the progressive deposition of ² -amyloid peptide (²A) in the cerebral cortex are pathological marks of the disease. The ²A is produced by two consecutive cleavages made by ²- (BACE1) and ³-secretases. Despite knowledge about the pathophysiology of AD, many of the mechanisms by which the disease starts and progresses are still completely unknown. The methods used to identify the DA are: medical evaluation, magnetic resonance images, and, more recently, biological markers are being introduced in medical practice. Currently, the biomarkers are evaluated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by lumbar puncture, which is considered an invasive procedure that may cause side effects such as back pain, headache, and more rarely, cerebral hemorrhage. However, definitive diagnosis is only given after necropsy. Considering the impact that this disease has on the patient and family, and the impact on public health, the goal of this work is to investigate non-invasive biomarkers that can detect the onset of disease, with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity. Accordingly, we intend to evaluate the expression of BACE1 in blood samples with the hypothesis higher expression in subjects with AD. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MANZINE, PATRICIA REGINA; SOUZA, MATHEUS DA SILVA; COMINETTI, MARCIA REGINA. BACE1 levels are increased in plasma of Alzheimer's disease patients compared with matched cognitively healthy controls. Personalized Medicine, v. 13, n. 6, p. 531-540, NOV 2016. (14/06580-1, 13/06879-4, 12/08654-7)