Serum heme oxygenase-1 levels are increased in Parkinson's disease but not in Alzheimer's disease
I. Mateo, J. Infante, P. Sánchez-Juan, I. García-Gorostiaga, E. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, J. L. Vázquez-Higuera, J. Berciano, O. Combarros



Objective – Oxidative stress is implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a potent antioxidant overexpressed in PD substantia nigra and AD cerebral cortex and hippocampus, indicating a possible up-regulation of antioxidant defenses in both neurodegenerative diseases. The role of HO-1 in peripheral blood of PD and AD patients remains unresolved.

Methods – We measured serum HO-1 levels in 107 patients with PD, 105 patients with AD, 104 controls for PD and 120 controls for AD.

Results – The median serum concentration of HO-1 was significantly higher in PD patients (2.04 ng/ml) compared with that of PD controls...Median serum levels of HO-1 did not differ significantly between AD patients and AD controls.

Conclusion – The increase of serum HO-1 levels in PD patients could indicate a systemic antioxidant reaction related to a chronic oxidative stress state in PD brain.


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http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...07481/abstract