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Red cell superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in Down syndrome patients with and without manifestations of Alzheimer disease
Percy ME, Dalton AJ, Markovic VD, McLachlan DR, Hummel JT, Rusk AC, Andrews DF.. American journal of medical genetics, 1990-04-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The activities of red blood cell enzymes that scavenge the superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide were measured in severely to profoundly retarded adult Down syndrome (DS) patients with and without manifestations of Alzheimer disease (AD), and control individuals matched for sex, age, and time of blood sampling. Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities were significantly elevated (1.39-fold and 1.24-fold, respectively) in DS individuals without AD. When an adjustment was made for the SOD gene dosage effect, DS patients with AD manifestations had significantly lower SOD levels than the matched control individuals. In contrast, DS patients with and without AD had a similar elevation in GSHPx (an adaptive phenomenon). The mean catalase (CAT) activity was no different in DS and control individuals; however, in a paired regression analysis, DS patients without AD had marginally lower CAT activity than control individuals, whereas DS patients with AD had slightly but not significantly higher CAT activity. Thus, AD manifestations in this DS population are associated with changes in the red cell oxygen scavenging processes.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Percy, M. E., Dalton, A. J., Markovic, V. D., McLachlan, D. R., Hummel, J. T., Rusk, A. C., et al. (1990). Red cell superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in Down syndrome patients with and without manifestations of Alzheimer disease. American journal of medical genetics. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320350403
Vancouver
Percy ME, Dalton AJ, Markovic VD, McLachlan DR, Hummel JT, Rusk AC, et al. Red cell superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in Down syndrome patients with and without manifestations of Alzheimer disease. American journal of medical genetics. 1990. doi:10.1002/ajmg.1320350403. PMID: 2139757.
BibTeX
@article{percy1990-2139757,
author = {Percy, M. E. and Dalton, A. J. and Markovic, V. D. and McLachlan, D. R. and Hummel, J. T. and Rusk, A. C. and Andrews, D. F.},
title = {{Red cell superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase in Down syndrome patients with and without manifestations of Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {American journal of medical genetics},
year = {1990},
doi = {10.1002/ajmg.1320350403},
pmid = {2139757},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320350403}
}
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 names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities were significantly elevated (1.39-fold and 1.24-fold, respectively) in DS individuals without AD.
- When an adjustment was made for the SOD gene dosage effect, DS patients with AD manifestations had significantly lower SOD levels than the matched control individuals.
- The mean catalase (CAT) activity was no different in DS and control individuals; however, in a paired regression analysis, DS patients without AD had marginally lower CAT activity than control individuals, whereas DS patients with AD had slightly but not significantly higher CAT activity.
- Thus, AD manifestations in this DS population are associated with changes in the red cell oxygen scavenging processes.
Why it matters
This study measured red blood cell antioxidant enzymes and found that Down syndrome patients with Alzheimer manifestations had lower superoxide dismutase levels after adjusting for gene dosage, while glutathione peroxidase was similarly elevated in those with and without Alzheimer manifestations. It reports an association in blood samples only and no treatment effect.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (American journal of medical genetics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | American Journal of Medical Genetics: journal h-index 207 (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 | 1990 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 79 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.1 citations a year over 38 year(s) since 1990 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author David F. Andrews: h-index 35 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Toronto: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 2139757) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
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