Characterization of alpha1-antitrypsin as a heme oxygenase-1 suppressor in Alzheimer plasma.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein levels are diminished in Alzheimer disease (AD) blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and choroid plexus. Herein, the presence of a heme oxygenase-1 suppressor (HOS) factor was ascertained by astroglial bioassay, biochemical techniques and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. We report significantly augmented plasma HOS activity in AD patients relative to healthy elderly and neurological controls.