| Research Abstract |
To investigate the significance of nitric oxide (NO) neuron death in aging and Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinocerebellar degeneration (OPCA and CCA), the concentrations of 3-nitrotyrosine and tyrosine in the cerebrospinal fluid were determined in patients with PD, AD, ALS, OPCA, CCA and neurologically normal controls.
1. The 3-nitrotyrosine concentration and the 3-nitrotyrosme/tyrosme ratio significantly increased with advancing age.
2. The 3-nitrotyrosine concentrations and the 3-nitrotyrosine/tyrosine ratios increased significantly compared with controls of similar age in patients with AD (seven-fold) and ALS (approximately six-fold).
3. The tyrosine concentrations were unaltered in all patients with PD, AD, ALS, OPCA and CCA.
4. In patients with AD, the 3-nitrotyrosine concentration and the 3-nitrotyrosine/tyrosine ratio increased significantly with decreasing cognitive functions, whereas the tyrosine concentration did not change.
These findings suggest that an activation of tyrosine nitration, increase in nitrated tyrosine-containing proteins, and / or its degradation may be involved in brain aging and play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD and ALS.
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