Summary
Immunocytochemical techniques were used to study the histopathologic changes in vascular dementia, i. e., both multi-infarct dementia (MID) and MID combined with Alzheimer changes (MID/SDAT). In eight of 13 of the dementia cases strongly immunostained deposits of plasma proteins were observed around numerous capillaries of layers I–IV of frontal grey matter. Each of these deposits contained albumin, prealbumin, IgG, C1q, C3c, and fibrinogen. No such deposits were found in any of the seven nondemented aged controls. In contrast, in white matter in both demented and normal aged control cases only weak immunostaining of serum proteins was observed which gradually decreased with the distance from the vessels. The presence of heavy deposits of serum proteins exclusively around the capillaries of the gray matter in cases with vascular dementia may indicate a defect of the cortical capillary system which might play a role in the clinical symptoms seen in vascular dementia. The enrichment of C1q within the deposits is intriguing as this might occur because of the binding of C1 through its subunit C1q to the antibody-antigen complex and thereby support a possible immunologic involvement in the formation of these deposits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alafuzoff I, Adolfsson R, Bucht G, Winblad B (1983) Albumin and immunoglobulin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, and blood-brain barrier function in patients with dementia of Alzheimer type and multi-infarct dementia. J Neurol Sci 60:465–472
Bodian D (1936) A new method for staining nerve fibers and nerve endings in mounted paraffin sections. Anat Rec 65:89–97
Brown EJ, Joiner KA, Frank MM (1984) Complement. In: Paul WE (ed) Fundamental immunology. Raven Press, New York, pp 645–668
Cooper NR, Jensen FC, Welsh RM Jr, Oldstone MBA (1976) Lysis of RNA tumor viruses by human serum: direct antibody-independent triggering of the classical complement pathway. J Exp Med 144:970–982
Cooper NR, Morrison DC (1978) Binding and activation of the first component of human complement by the lipid A region of lipopolysaccharides. J Immunol 120:1862–1868
Cohen D, Matsuyama SS, Jarvik LF (1976) Short communication. Immunoglobulin levels and intellectual functioning in the aged. Exp Aging Res 2:345–348
Corsellis JAN (1976) Aging and dementia. In: Blackwood W, Corsellis JAN (eds) Greenfield's neuropathology. Arnold, London, p 798
Eisdorfer C, Cohen D (1980) Serum immunoglobulins and cognitive status in the elderly. 2. An immunological behavioral relationship. Br J Psychiatry 136:40–45
Fisher CM (1968) Dementia and cerebral vascular disease: Dementia in cerebral vascular disease. In: Toole JE, Sickert RG, Vishnant VP (eds) Cerebral vascular disease. 6th Printington Conference, New York, pp 232–236
Gustafson L, Risberg J, Johanson M, Brun A (1984) Evaluation of dementia by regional cerebral blood flow measurements and clinical and psychometric methods. Monogr Neural Sci 11:111–117
Hachinski VC, Lassen NH, Marshall J (1974) Multi-infarct dementia, a cause of mental deterioration in the elderly. Lancet II:207–209
Hachinski VC, Iliff LD, Zilhka E, DuBoulay GH, McAllister VL, Marshall J, Russell RW, Symon L (1975) Cerebral blood flow in dementia. Arch Neurol 32:632–637
Kaplan MH, Volanakis JE (1974) Interaction of C reactive protein complex with the complement system. J Immunol 112:2135–2147
Lavy S, Melamed E, Bentin S, Cooper G, Rinot Y (1978) Bihemispheric decreases of regional cerebral blood flow in dementia: Correlation with age-matched normal controls. Ann Neurol 4:445–450
Nandy K (1978) Brain-reactive antibodies in aging and senile dementia. In: Katzman R, Terry RD, Bick KL (eds) Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia and related disorders, vol 7: aging. Raven Press, New York, pp 503–514
deReuck J, Sieben G, de Coster W, van der Eecken H (1982) Dementia and confusional state in patients with cerebral infarcts: A clinicopathological study. Eur Neurol 21:94–97
Romeis B (1968) Mikroskopische Technik. Oldenbourg, München Wien, 65:226
Rosen WC, Terry RD, Fuld PA, Katzman R, Peck A (1980) Pathological verification of ischemic score in differentiation of dementias. Ann Neurol 7:486–488
Roth M (1955) The natural history of mental disorder in old age. J Ment Sci 101:281–301
Rothschild D (1941) The clinical differentiation of senile and arteriosclerotic psychoses. Am J Psychiatry 98:324–333
Siegel J, Rent R, Gewurz HJ (1974) Interaction of C-reactive protein with the complement system. Exp Med 140:631–644
Slater E, Roth M (1970) Aging and the mental diseases of the aged. In: Mayer-Gross W, Slater E, Roth M (eds) Clinical psychiatry, 3rd edn, chapt 10. Bailliere, Tindall and Cassell, London, pp 533–630
Sternberger LA (1979) The unlabeled antibody peroxidase antiperoxidase method. In: Sternberger LA (ed) Immunocytochemistry, 2nd edn, chapt 5. Wiley, Chichester, pp 104–168
Todorov AB, Go RCP, Constantinidis J, Elston RC (1975) Specificity of the clinical diagnosis of dementia. J Neurol Sci 26:81–98
Tomlinson BE (1980) The structural and quantitative aspects of the dementias. In: Roberts PJ (ed) Biochemistry of dementia. Wiley, Chichester, pp 15–51
Tomlinson BE, Blessed G, Roth M (1968) Observation on the brains of nondemented old people. J Neurol Sci 7:331–356
Tomlinson BE, Blessed G, Roth M (1970) Observation on the brains of demented old people. J Neurol Sci 11:205–242
Watts H, Kennedy PGE, Myfanwy T (1981) The significance of anti-neuronal antibodies in Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroimmunol 1:107–116
Worm-Petersen J, Pakkenberg H (1968) Atherosclerosis of cerebral arteries, pathological and clinical correlations. J Gerontol 23:445–449
Yunis EJ, Greenberg LJ (1968) Immunopathology of aging. Fed Proc 33:2017–2019
Yunis EJ, Lane MA (1979) Cellular immunity in aging. J Invest Dermatol 73:24–28
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council, King Gustaf Vth and Queen Victoria's foundation, Osterman's, Pfannenstill's, Mångberg's, and Thuring's foundations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alafuzoff, I., Adolfsson, R., Grundke-Iqbal, I. et al. Perivascular deposits of serum proteins in cerebral cortex in vascular dementia. Acta Neuropathol 66, 292–298 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690961
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690961