The Association between TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha and IL-10 with Alzheimer's Disease

Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is assumed to be associated with different biological/genetic vulnerability, as well as with neuroinflammation, mediated by cytokines. The present study evaluated the role of cytokines in AD.

The aim was to determine the possible association of TNF-α (rs1800629), IL1-α (rs1800587) and IL-10 (rs1800896) polymorphisms with AD, and to assess serum TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-10 concentrations in patients with AD and in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The study included 645 Caucasian participants: 395 subjects with AD and 250 subjects with MCI. Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR in all 645 subjects, while serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-10 and were determined using ELISA in 174 subjects.

The frequency of the TNF-α rs1800629, IL1-α rs1800587 or IL-10 rs1800896 genotypes did not differ significantly between patients with AD and MCI. Serum concentration of IL-1α and IL-10 were significantly decreased, while the concentration of TNF-α was significantly higher in patients with AD than in MCI subjects. TNF-α, IL1-α or IL-10 concentrations were similar in subjects with AD or MCI subdivided into carriers of the corresponding TNF-α rs1800629, IL1-α rs1800587 or IL-10 rs1800896 genotypes.

Similar distribution of the IL1-α rs1800587, TNF-α rs1800629 or IL-10 rs1800896 genotypes in subjects with AD and MCI failed to confirm that these specific risk genotypes are associated with vulnerability to develop AD. Alteration in IL-1α, IL-10 and TNF-α concentrations in patients with AD partially confirmed the association with the neuroinflammatory response in AD.