Down Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Down Syndrome, including details on education, symptoms, treatment, information.

Increased serum neopterin levels in adults with Down syndrome.

Mehta PD, Patrick BA, Dalton AJ, Patel B, Mehta SP, Pirttila T, Coyle PK

Department of Immunology, Institute For Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA. pdmehta@worldnet.att.net

We quantitated serum neopterin levels in Down syndrome (DS), normal controls, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. We then analyzed the relationships with age, sex, apolipoprotein E (Apo E) phenotype, and amyloid beta protein 1-40 (Abeta40) and 1-42 (Abeta42) levels. Neopterin levels were higher in DS than all other groups. Levels in young DS (< 40 years of age) and old DS (> 41 years) were similar. There was no significant correlation between neopterin levels and age, sex, Apo E phenotype, and Abeta40 or Abeta42 levels in DS. This lack of correlation between neopterin and Abeta levels suggests that the higher neopterin concentrations in DS group reflect inflammatory cell activation rather than AD neuropathology.

Published 20 June 2005 in J Neuroimmunol, 164(1): 129-33.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Down Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.