Alzheimer skin fibroblasts show increased susceptibility to free radicals

• Published in: Mechanisms of ageing and development Vol. 66; no. 2; p. 117
• Main Authors: Tesco, G, Latorraca, S, Piersanti, P, Piacentini, S, Amaducci, L, Sorbi, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland 01-11-1992
• Subjects: Acetaldehyde - metabolism; Aging - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Humans; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Skin - metabolism; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Xanthine Oxidase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0047-6374
• DOI: 10.1016/0047-6374(92)90129-2

We have studied the response to toxic oxygen metabolites of fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies of 5 patients with familial (FAD) and 4 with sporadic (AD) Alzheimer's disease compared with those derived from 4 normal controls. Fibroblasts were damaged by the generation of oxygen metabolites during the enzymatic oxidation of acetaldehyde by 50 munits of xanthine-oxidase (Xo). To quantify cell damage we measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium and cell viability in fibroblast cultures. We found a significant increase in LDH activity in the FAD vs. controls and also in the AD vs. controls.