Expression of Monomeric C-Reactive Protein in Infarcted Brain Tissue from Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Objective: We have previously shown that monomeric-C-reactive protein is deposited in significant quantities within the brain parenchyma after stroke. Since we have recently identified a possible role of this protein in supporting neurodegeneration and aberrant vascular development we identified a small group of post-mortem brain samples from individuals who had Alzheimer’s disease and evidence of tissue infarction/ micro-infarction on histological examination. Material and Method: We used immunohistochemistry staining to identify the monomeric-C-reactive protein expressed in the infarcted brain tissues. Results: We showed that monomeric-C-reactive protein deposition was highest in those regions affected by stroke or vascular disruption, and that within those same areas, there was more interaction and co-localization between major classical proteins of neurodegeneration (β-amyloid and tau). Conclusion: We hypothesise that vascular disruption and concomitant release of monomeric-C-reactive protein within the brain tissue could exacerbate ongoing neurological damage via stimulation of neuro-inflammation and from direct consequences of its action on both neuronal and vascular cells.

Keywords

• Monomeric C-reactive protein
• Stroke
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Neurodegeneration
• Vascular dementia