NGF and nitrosative stress in patients with Huntington's disease

Inmaculada Tasset, Fernando Sánchez-López, Eduardo Agüera, Ricardo Fernández-Bolaños, Francisco Manuel Sánchez, Antonio Cruz-Guerrero, Felix Gascón-Luna, Isaac Túnez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene and characterised by the loss of striatal and cortical neurons. Few studies to date have focussed on peripheral neurotrophic-factor levels in patients with HD. Objective: To measure plasma NGF levels in Huntington's disease and investigate their correlation with disease intensity. Materials and methods: Nineteen patients with HD and nineteen age- and sex-matched healthy subjects took part in this cross-sectional study. Plasma levels of NGF, BDNF, GDNF, nitrotyrosine, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined and white blood cell (WBC) counts were evaluated. Results: NGF levels were significantly lower, nitrotyrosine levels were higher and LDH activity was greater in HD patients than in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference in MPO levels or WBC counts, whereas the MPO/WBC ratio was considerably higher in HD patients. The data obtained suggested that biochemical and haematological changes correlated with disease severity. Conclusion: NGF levels are lower in HD patients than in healthy subjects. However, further research is required to confirm the role of NGF in HD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)133-136
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume315
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BDNF
  • Basal ganglia
  • GDNF
  • Huntington's disease
  • NGF
  • Neurodegeneration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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