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IFN-γ and TNF-α are involved during Alzheimer disease progression and correlate with nitric oxide production: a study in Algerian patients
Belkhelfa M, Rafa H, Medjeber O, Arroul-Lammali A, Behairi N, Abada-Bendib M, Makrelouf M, Belarbi S et al.. Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research, 2014-05-15
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Plain-language summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to a progressive and irreversible loss of mental functions. It is characterized by 3 stages according to the evolution and the severity of the symptoms. This disease is associated with an immune disorder, which appears with significant rise in the inflammatory cytokines and increased production of free radicals such as nitric oxide (NO). Our study aims to investigate interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) involvement in NO production, in vivo and ex vivo, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Algerian patients (n=25), according to the different stages of the disease (mild Alzheimer's, moderate Alzheimer's, and severe Alzheimer's) in comparison to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Interestingly, we observed that in vivo IFN-γ and TNF-α levels assessed in patients with AD in mild and severe stages, respectively, are higher than those observed in patients with moderate stage and MCI. Our in vivo and ex vivo results show that NO production is related to the increased levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, in mild and severe stages of AD. Remarkably, significant IFN-γ level is only detected in mild stage of AD. Our study suggests that NO production is IFN-γ dependent both in MCI and mild Alzheimer's patients. Further, high levels of NO are associated with an elevation of TNF-α levels in severe stage of AD. Collectively, our data indicate that the proinflammatory cytokine production seems, in part, to be involved in neurological deleterious effects observed during the development of AD through NO pathway.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
The record lists 25 participants. In a small group of 25 Algerian patients, levels of the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α and production of nitric oxide differed across stages of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. This is an early study of immune and oxidative processes and does not test any treatment.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Belkhelfa, M., Rafa, H., Medjeber, O., Arroul-Lammali, A., Behairi, N., Abada-Bendib, M., et al. (2014). IFN-γ and TNF-α are involved during Alzheimer disease progression and correlate with nitric oxide production: a study in Algerian patients. Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research. https://doi.org/10.1089/jir.2013.0085
Vancouver
Belkhelfa M, Rafa H, Medjeber O, Arroul-Lammali A, Behairi N, Abada-Bendib M, et al. IFN-γ and TNF-α are involved during Alzheimer disease progression and correlate with nitric oxide production: a study in Algerian patients. Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research. 2014. doi:10.1089/jir.2013.0085. PMID: 24831467.
BibTeX
@article{belkhelfa2014-24831467,
author = {Belkhelfa, M. and Rafa, H. and Medjeber, O. and Arroul-Lammali, A. and Behairi, N. and Abada-Bendib, M. and Makrelouf, M. and Belarbi, S. and others},
title = {{IFN-γ and TNF-α are involved during Alzheimer disease progression and correlate with nitric oxide production: a study in Algerian patients}},
journal = {Journal of interferon \& cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1089/jir.2013.0085},
pmid = {24831467},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1089/jir.2013.0085}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- This disease is associated with an immune disorder, which appears with significant rise in the inflammatory cytokines and increased production of free radicals such as nitric oxide (NO).
- Interestingly, we observed that in vivo IFN-γ and TNF-α levels assessed in patients with AD in mild and severe stages, respectively, are higher than those observed in patients with moderate stage and MCI.
- Our in vivo and ex vivo results show that NO production is related to the increased levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α, in mild and severe stages of AD.
- Remarkably, significant IFN-γ level is only detected in mild stage of AD.
- Our study suggests that NO production is IFN-γ dependent both in MCI and mild Alzheimer's patients.
Why it matters
In a small group of 25 Algerian patients, levels of the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α and production of nitric oxide differed across stages of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. This is an early study of immune and oxidative processes and does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Participants25
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research: journal h-index 122 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 25 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 120 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.6 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Chafia Touil–Boukoffa: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene: institution h-index 164 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24831467) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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