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Increased midkine levels in sera from patients with Alzheimer's disease

Ragaa H M Salama1, Hisako Muramatsu, Eiji Shimizu

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Division of Disease Models, Center for Neural Disease and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|May 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Serum levels of Midkine (MK), a growth factor, are significantly elevated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared to healthy individuals. This finding may offer insights into AD pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor involved in cellular processes.
  • MK is found in the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of serum Midkine (MK) levels in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples were collected from 36 AD patients and 32 healthy controls.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify serum MK levels.
  • Statistical analysis included the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Main Results:

  • Serum MK levels were significantly higher in AD patients (median 560 pg/ml) than in controls (median 500 pg/ml).
  • Approximately 47.2% of AD patients exhibited elevated serum MK levels (>600 pg/ml), compared to 0% of controls.
  • No correlation was found between serum MK levels and cognitive scores (MMSE) in AD patients.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum Midkine (MK) levels are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • These findings contribute to understanding AD pathophysiology.
  • Increased MK may represent a potential therapeutic target for reducing neuronal damage in AD.

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