We have examined the possible role of metallothionein I/II (MT I/II) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with a focus on the cellular localization of MT I/II relative to the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In AD and preclinical AD cases, MT I/II immunolabeling was present in glial cells and did not show a spatial relationship with β-amyloid plaques or neurofibrillary pathology. There was a six- to seven-fold increase in both MT I/II- and GFAP-labeled cells in the gray matter of AD cases, relative to non-AD cases. However, there was a threefold increase in MT I/II- immunoreactive cells, but not GFAP-labeled cells, in the gray matter of preclinical AD cases compared to non-AD cases. Therefore, the specific increase in MT I/II is associated with the initial stages of the disease process, perhaps due to oxidative stress or the mismetabolism of heavy metals.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Neurosciences
Research Field:	Peripheral Nervous System
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Nervous System and Disorders
UTAS Author:	Adlard, PA (Dr Paul Anthony Adlard)
UTAS Author:	West, AK (Professor Adrian West)
UTAS Author:	Vickers, JC (Professor James Vickers)
ID Code:	14700
Year Published:	1998
Web of Science® Times Cited:	57
Deposited By:	Pathology
Deposited On:	1998-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-09
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