Neuronal localization of C1q in preclinical Alzheimer's disease

Complement has been postulated to contribute to inflammatory reactions associated with the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clq, an initial component of the complement cascade, is associated with neuritic plaques and with neurons in the hippocampus of AD brain. Here, we report the presence of Clq in a cognitively intact subject, previously identified as preclinical AD. We compared in detail brain tissue of this preclinical case with a genetically related late-onset AD case. In the AD brain, Clq was typically associated with fibrillar Abeta plaques in frontal cortex and with plaques and neurons in the hippocampus. In the preclinical subject, Clq was abundantly present but it was cell-associated only, being primarily colocalized with neurons in both frontal cortex and hippocampus. However, no predominant cortical neuronal Clq localization was found in other preclinical cases or in Down's cases of different ages. Thus, it is possible that this neuronal-associated Clq reflects an early, but transient, response to injury that may modulate the progression of neurological dysfunction in AD. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.