Title:Non-Ceruloplasmin Copper as a Stratification Biomarker of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: How to Measure and Use It
Volume: 18
Issue: 7
Author(s): Rosanna Squitti*, Mariacarla Ventriglia, Alberto Granzotto, Stefano L. Sensi and Mauro Ciro A. Rongioletti
Affiliation:
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia,Italy
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease, copper, non-ceruloplasmin copper, ceruloplasmin, zinc, biomarker, stratification, risk/susceptibility.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a type of dementia very common in the elderly. A growing
body of recent evidence has linked AD pathogenesis to Copper (Cu) dysmetabolism in the body. In
fact, a subset of patients affected either by AD or by its prodromal form known as Mild Cognitive
Impairment (MCI) have been observed to be unable to maintain a proper balance of Cu metabolism
and distribution and are characterized by the presence in their serum of increased levels of Cu not
bound to ceruloplasmin (non-ceruloplasmin Cu). Since serum non-ceruloplasmin Cu is a biomarker
of Wilson's Disease (WD), a well-known condition of Cu-driven toxicosis, in this review, we
propose that in close analogy with WD, the assessment of non-ceruloplasmin Cu levels can be exploited
as a cost-effective stratification and susceptibility/risk biomarker for the identification of
some AD/MCI individuals. The approach can also be used as an eligibility criterion for clinical
trials aiming at investigating Cu-related interventions against AD/MCI.