Apoptotic gene expression in Alzheimer disease: a preliminary report

Background: This preliminary study examined the pattern of apoptotic gene expression in Alzheimer Disease [AD] using RNA from whole blood. Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 8 Gulf Arab people aged 60+ years with AD and 12 ethnically similar controls. RNA was isolated using the PAXgene blood RNA procedure and analysed using a GEArray system, profiling 96 key apoptotic genes. Results: In all samples, TNFRSF1B (TNF receptor family TNFR2) was the most highly expressed; BCL2L1 (BCL2 family bcl-x) and CASP14 (caspase family) were also of relatively high intensity. In AD, BCL2L1 was significantly lower than in controls [p=0.022]. TNFSF14 (HVEM-L) was significantly higher in males than females [p=0.025]. There was no difference in expression of the other apoptotic genes observed. Conclusion: The findings suggest a possible role for the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2L1 in AD and a possible differential role between sexes in ageing for TNFSF14.