Neuropeptide kyotorphin (tyrosyl-arginine) has decreased levels in the cerebro-spinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients: potential diagnostic and pharmacologic alimplications

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Santos, SM (Author) Other; Garcia Nimo, L (Author) Other; Santos, SS (Author) Other; Isaura Tavares (Author) FMUP; Cocho, JA (Author) Other; Castanho, MARB (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Vol. 5

ISSN: 1663-4365

Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 10 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-PSS

DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2013.00068

Abstract (EN): In Alzheimers disease (AD), besides the characteristic deterioration of memory, studies also point to a higher pain tolerance in spite of sensibility preservation. A change in the normal tau protein phosphorylation is also characteristic of AD, which contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease and is useful in early diagnosis. Kyotorphin (KTP) is an endogenous analgesic dipeptide (Tyr-Arg) for which there is evidence of eventual neuroprotective and neuromodulatory properties. The objective of this work was to study the possible correlation between KTP and phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau) levels in cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) samples of AD patients. CSF samples were collected from 25 AD patients and 13 age-matched controls (N), where p-tau and KTP levels were measured. We found a statistically significant difference between p-tau/KTP values in AD and N groups with an inverse correlation between p-tau and KTP values in AD samples. These results suggest that in the future KTP may be a candidate biomarker for neurodegeneration and may be a lead compound to be used pharmacologically for neuroprotection.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6