Antimicrobial peptides and proteins in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: implications for biomarker exploration

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Current Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) biomarkers (imaging, CSF) are invasive, costly, and limited in early-stage accuracy.
• Antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) are implicated in AD and PD neuropathogenesis, suggesting their potential as diagnostic markers.
• There is a need for accessible and less invasive biomarkers for early and preclinical diagnosis of AD and PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on alterations in specific AMP levels in biofluids of AD and PD patients.
• To evaluate AMPs as potential biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and accessible biofluids (serum, plasma, saliva, tears).
• To highlight the advantages, challenges, and future prospects of AMP-based biomarkers for AD and PD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating AMP levels in AD and PD.
• Analysis of AMP changes in CSF, serum, plasma, saliva, and tears.
• Comparison of AMP levels in patients versus control groups.

Main Results:

• Specific AMPs (e.g., lactoferrin, hepcidin, defensin) show altered levels in AD and PD patients.
• Changes in AMPs are detectable in both CSF and more accessible biofluids.
• AMPs represent a promising class of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusions:

• AMPs are emerging as viable, less invasive biomarkers for early AD and PD detection.
• Further research is needed to validate AMPs and optimize their use in clinical diagnostics.
• AMP-based diagnostics could improve early intervention and patient outcomes for AD and PD.