A broader horizon of Alzheimer pathogenesis: ALZAS--an early serum biomarker?

Recently, a novel risk gene protein expressed in elderly patients with the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) was discovered on chromosome 21 within the APP (amyloid precursor protein) region. This 79 amino acid protein, ALZAS (Alzheimer Associated Protein) contains the beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 fragment, the APP transmembrane signal, and a unique 12 amino acid c-terminal which is not present in any known allele of the APP gene. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed that the transcript of ALZAS was expressed in cortical and hippocampal regions of human Alzheimer disease brain as well as in leukocytes derived from AD patients. Most specifically, an endogenous antibody was found in patients with confirmed AD, in patients with depression, and in subjects suggested to have presymptomatic AD, where it was directed against epitopes within the intron encoded amino acid c-terminal sequence.