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. 1992 Oct;141(4):783–788.

Immunohistochemical identification of thrombospondin in normal human brain and in Alzheimer's disease.

L Buée 1, P R Hof 1, D D Roberts 1, A Delacourte 1, J H Morrison 1, H M Fillit 1
PMCID: PMC1886629  PMID: 1415477

Abstract

Thrombospondin is part of a family of adhesive glycoproteins and is involved in a number of physiologic processes such as angiogenesis and neurite outgrowth. Immunohistochemical localization of thrombospondin in normal human brains was investigated in the hippocampus and inferior temporal cortex. Two antibodies (one polyclonal and one monoclonal) against thrombospondin-labeled microvessels, glial cells, and a subpopulation of pyramidal neurons. The distribution of thrombospondin staining in patients with Alzheimer's disease was found to be comparable to control subjects. However, in patients with Alzheimer's disease a subset of pyramidal neurons that may be vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease exhibited decreased staining. This decrease in the intensity of labeling might constitute a marker for a neuronal population prone to early degeneration. In addition, thrombospondin staining was demonstrated in senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease. These results suggest that thrombospondin may be involved in the process of neuronal degeneration and senile plaque formation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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