Misiti_2012_Cell.Biochem.Funct_30_474

Until few years ago many studies of Alzheimer's disease investigated the effects of this syndrome in the central nervous system Only recently the detection of amyloid beta peptide Abeta in the blood has evidenced the necessity to extend studies on extraneuronal cells particularly on erythrocytes Abeta is also present in brain capillaries where it interacts with the erythrocytes inducing several metabolic and functional alterations Recently functionally active endothelial type nitric oxide synthase eNOS was discovered in human erythrocytes The goal of the present study was to evidence the effect of Abeta on erythrocyte eNOS We found that Abeta following to 24-h exposure causes a decrease in the immune staining of erythrocyte eNOS Concurrently Abeta alters erythrocyte cell morphology decreases nitrites and nitrates levels and affects membrane acetylcholinesterase activity Propidium an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor was able to reverse the effects elicited by Abeta These events could contribute to the vascular alterations associated with Alzheimer's disease disease Copyright c 2012 John Wiley Sons Ltd.