Serum sirtuin1: a potential blood biomarker for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Detection of blood-related indexes

Detection of blood biochemical indexes

As shown in Table 1.

Serum assays for SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, T-Tau, and P-tau-181 protein

As shown in Table 2, serum SIRT1 protein levels were successively down-regulated in the NC, MCI, and AD groups. Compared with that in the NC group, the serum SIRT1 level in the MCI and AD groups was significantly down-regulated, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). As shown in Figure 1, the level of inflammatory factor IL-6 was inversely correlated with the change in SIRT1 levels. Compared with that in the NC group (1.65±0.35 ng/μL), the serum IL-6 levels in the MCI group (2.02±0.56 ng/μL) and the AD group (3.58±0.98 ng/μL) were significantly up-regulated (P< 0.05), as shown in Figure 2, and the serum Aβ1-42 level in the MCI group was significantly up-regulated (P< 0.05); that in the AD group was also up-regulated, but the difference was not significant (P> 0.05). In the NC, MCI, and AD groups, the serum Aβ1-42 level showed a trend of up-regulation first and then down-regulation. As shown in Figure 3, compared with those in the NC group, there was no significant difference in the serum P-tau-181 and T-tau levels among the NC, MCI, and AD groups (P> 0.05).

Diagnostic performances of SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, P-tau-181, and T-tau protein for AD

Correlation analysis showed that serum SIRT1 levels were positively correlated with MMSE scores (r_s=0.47, P=0.000); IL-6, Aβ1-42, T-Tau, and P-tau-181 levels were inversely correlated with MMSE scores (r_I=-0.73, P=0.000; r_A=-0.34, P=0.002; r_T=-0.58, P=0.000; r_P=-0.27, P=0.015); all differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The results are shown in Table 3 and the scatter plots are shown in Figures 4–8.

The diagnostic performances of serum SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, P-tau-181, and T-tau for AD were evaluated by ROC curve analysis. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and all cut-off values of SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, P-tau-181, and T-tau levels were determined using ROC analysis and were summarized in Table 4. SIRT1 predicted the presence of AD with an AUC of 0.742 (95% CI: 0.60–0.85), 88.5% sensitivity, and 65.4% specificity. The ROC curves are shown in Figures 9–11.

The key findings of the study

The silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein is a histone deacetylase, which links the metabolic state of cells with the regulation of gene expression and many processes related to cancer (such as apoptosis, oxidative stress, neuronal autophagy, immune response and so on) [32, 33]. Sirtuin 1 is highly expressed in the hippocampus and anterior cortex, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Overexpression or elevation of SIRT1 concentration can reduce Aβ aggregation and degrade tau. Therefore, lack of sirtuin expression in the hippocampal neurons will impair cognitive function, including recent memory and spatial learning [34]. Previous studies have shown that the reduction of SIRT1 level can lead to Alzheimer’s disease by promoting Aβ aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation [35, 36]. Pradhan, R. et al. reported that the sirtuins family was composed of seven members. Compared with MCI and GC, the sirtuins in AD group were significantly reduced, and the levels of SIRT1, SIRT3 and SIRT6 (mean±SD) were significantly reduced. ROC analysis showed that for AD and MCI had high sensitivity and specificity [37]. In addition, Jiao, F. and Z. Gongamong also showed that seven sirtuins, SIRT1, play an significant regulatory role in a wide range of physiological processes, including oxidative stress, regulation of synaptic plasticity, metabolism as well as cancer [38]. Cui, Z., et al., and Buglio, D.S., et al. reported that SIRT1 may provide a new therapeutic direction for the treatment of age-related diseases by inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory response and restoring mitochondrial dysfunction [39]. There are some studies demonstrating that SIRT1 regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, for instance, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), and interferon γ (IFN-γ) during microglial activation [40], as well as alleviates degeneration of dopaminergic neurons [41]. Yin, Z., et al. and Yin, X., et al. showed that SIRT1 reduces the expression of Aβ [42] and tau [43], which are associated with AD. Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in aging and various degenerative diseases, and SIRT1 can regulate mitochondrial biosynthesis and metabolism, repair mitochondrial loss and maintain mitochondrial stability [44]. Furthermore, Shi, L. et al. revealed that SIRT1 directly controls the activity of proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) through phosphorylation and deacetylation to regulate mitochondrial function [45]. These findings illustrate that SIRT1 is a potential therapeutic target for AD and remains to be further revealed.

Therefore, our study screened sporadic AD and MCI patients of community origin among the elderly aged 60 years and above in Hubei Province through a cross-sectional study, and then a 1:1:1 case-control study was conducted in 26 AD patients, 26 MCI patients, and 26 NC subjects, according to gender and age (±2 years). A total of 26 NC subjects were selected and their peripheral venous blood was collected to find a more stable biomarker for the early diagnosis of AD by detecting the levels of serum SIRT1, IL-6, T-tau, P-tau-181, and Aβ1-42 proteins in the three groups of subjects, to provide ponderable help for the early diagnosis of AD.

In the transition from MCI to AD, namely, the AD stage, the opposite changes in blood glucose and lipid levels may occur, which is consistent with Shang Ying’s report [46], that is, the relationship between blood glucose level and hyperlipidemia and Alzheimer’s disease may not be positively correlated. Compared with that in the NC group, the serum Aβ1-42 level in the MCI group was significantly up-regulated (P< 0.05); that in the AD group was also up-regulated, but not statistically significantly (P> 0.05), which indicated a trend of up-regulation first and then down-regulation among NC, MCI, and AD groups. Compared with those in the NC group, the serum P-tau-181 and T-tau levels showed a trend of up-regulation first and then down-regulation in the MCI and AD groups, but not statistically significantly (P> 0.05). Possible reasons are as follows: on the one hand, when normal people first manifest cognitive impairment in the process of transforming to MCI, the levels of Aβ1-42, T-tau, and P-tau-181 proteins in the brain increase sharply. The concentration of these proteins in the blood is greatly diluted owing to the existence of the blood-brain barrier [47]. Once there is progression to AD, the levels of the three proteins stabilize at a low level. On the other hand, the concentration of Aβ in peripheral blood is affected by the small amount of Aβ produced by platelets, so its concentration change in CSF is not synchronized [48]. It has been reported [49] that plasma Aβ1-42 protein concentration was down-regulated significantly in both AD and MCI patients. However, studies by some scholars have shown [50] that the changes in plasma Aβ1-42 protein concentration in AD and MCI patients show staged differences, that is, the concentration of Aβ1-42 down-regulates with progression from the MCI stage to the AD stage, but there is no significant difference with progression from the normal state to the MCI stage. It has also been reported [51] that the concentration of plasma Aβ1-42 protein in AD patients is significantly higher than that in the NC group. In short, the research results of Aβ1-42 in the peripheral blood of patients with AD and early MCI by different researchers are inconsistent, or even opposite, and Aβ40 in plasma is also inconsistent [52]. However, serum Aβ1-42, T-tau, and P-tau-181 protein levels were inversely correlated with MMSE scores, which was consistent with previous findings. The levels of these special proteins were up-regulated or down-regulated sharply in the MCI stage, but were down-regulated or up-regulated sharply in the AD stage. This disorder in the level of specific protein changes suggests the importance of studying biomarkers of MCI in the early stages of AD, the intermediate stage of the disease.

Our data demonstrated that the levels of SIRT1 decreased significantly in AD patients. According to the detection of serum SIRT1, IL-6, T-tau, P-tau-181, and Aβ1-42 proteins, the results showed that in the NC, MCI, and AD groups, the serum SIRT1 protein levels were down-regulated successively, and they were (2.90±2.01), (1.29±0.21), and (1.06±0.471) ng/μL, respectively. Compared with that in the NC group, the serum SIRT1 levels in the MCI and AD groups were significantly down-regulated, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Interestingly, the serum SIRT1 protein levels in the case groups and the control group were positively correlated with the MMSE score (r_S =0.47, P=0.000), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05), which was consistent with a previous report [53]. The levels of IL-6 were up-regulated with the progression of disease from NC to MCI and then to AD: they were (1.65±0.35), (2.02±0.56), and (3.58±0.98) ng/μL, respectively. Compared with that in the NC group, the serum IL-6 levels in the MCI and AD groups were significantly up-regulated (P< 0.05). These results suggest that inflammation is an important process of MCI to AD transformation. It was also found that serum IL-6 level was inversely correlated with SIRT1 level (r_I=-0.73, P=0.000), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Studies have shown that [54] compared with cognitively healthy controls, AD patients may have inflammatory signs in the hypothalamus and hippocampus (as shown by T2 hyperintensity). T2 hyperintensity in the hypothalamus and hippocampus is positively correlated with plasma IL-6 concentration and inversely correlated with MMSE score, which is very important for the production of AD. Chen X. [54] et al. showed that the genetic variation and deacetylation function of SIRT1 are directly related to the occurrence of inflammation, and play a role in inhibiting inflammation through the NF-κB pathway, thereby inhibiting the expression of IL-6.

On analyzing the sensitivities, specificities, and AUCs of SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, P-tau-181, and T-tau in serum, the sensitivities and specificities of the serum proteins decreased successively: P-tau-181 (92.3%, 76.9%), SIRT1 (88.5%, 65.4%), Aβ1-42 (80.8%, 46.2%), T-tau (80.8%, 42.3%), IL-6 (76.9%, 100.0%). However, the AUC was IL-6 >P-tau-181> SIRT1 > Aβ1-42 > T-tau. ROC analysis showed the AUC, sensitivity and specificity of screening AD using P-tau-181 were all higher than that using SIRT1. However, the serum P-tau-181 levels was no significant difference among the NC, MCI, and AD groups (P> 0.05). The ROC curve is only an estimate, and serological results are more reliable, so we did not consider the diagnostic performance of P-tau-181. The levels of SIRT1, IL-6, and P-tau-181 and MMSE were considered statistically significant (P< 0.05), but the levels of Aβ1-42 and T-tau were not considered statistically significant (P> 0.05). The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of screening AD were best when the critical value of the MMSE was above 18. However, there is a certain subjective bias in the scale, which is not as accurate as the blood index. The performances of SIRT1 combined with other markers of AD require further study in the future.

Strength and limitations

Our study is the first cross-sectional and case-control study of sporadic AD and MCI in Hubei province. In addition, our results provide more meaningful biomarkers for the early diagnosis of AD, and also provide new ideas for the basis of early diagnosis. However, to some extent, our study also had some limitations, and there is a need to conduct validation with a larger sample size of AD patients from different sources in the future to obtain more relevant and reliable evidence.

Source of subjects

A cross-sectional and case-control study were performed. The case groups and the control group were all from Qichun County, Huanggang City, and Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province. The case groups were AD and MCI patients aged ≥ 60 years, with 26 cases in each group. Their mean ages were (70.02 ± 4.68) and (69.83 ± 4.84) years, respectively, while the control group consisted of 26 healthy elderly people aged ≥ 60 years, with a mean age of (70.17±5.99) years. As shown in Table 5A. General information of case group and control group, including education level, alcohol drinking, tea drinking, physical exercise, and body mass index (BMI), marital status, disease history, and smoking were collected and summarized in Table 5B. The research protocol of the experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical College of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, and informed consent was obtained from all individual participants of the present study.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for the case group

The results are shown in Table 6A.

Inclusion criteria and exclusion for the control group

The results are shown in Table 6B.

Collection, processing, storage and transportation of blood samples

With the informed consent of all the researchers, the serum samples of the case group and the control group were collected. The specific collection methods are as follows:

1. The blood collection code strip was affixed, and the blood collection code was filled in the circulation form of the respondents by special personnel at the registry office, and the blood collection code strip was affixed on the blood collection vessels as required.

2. Collecting 3-4ml venous blood in 5ml disposable vacuum negative pressure collection vessel (red cap tube, with milkWhite glue block), we placed it at room temperature for 30 minutes, centrifuged at 3000r/min for about 15 minutes, and separated the serum in the clean workbench (note: the lid must be tightly covered, affixed with the corresponding label, immediately transferred to -20° C for storage).

3. We collected 3-4ml venous blood in a disposable vacuum negative pressure EDTA-2K anticoagulant collection vessel (purple cap tube). The venous blood was then gently upsided down 6 times, transferred to-20° C within 1 hour for storage, used for plasma isolation.

4. After all blood samples are processed, the numbers must be checked, and a record paper must be attached to each freezing box, indicating the starting number, ending number, lack number, hemolysis number and date of the district (county), township (street) and village (neighborhood committee) where the blood is collected; and attach the signature of the person in charge. In addition, the freezing box number and blood sample type (serum, plasma, whole blood) should be marked on the surface and side of the freezing box. The blood samples were stored at low temperature in the laboratories of each project site and transported to the testing center of Wuhan University of Science and Technology School of Medicine on dry ice within one week.

Blood biochemical indexes were detected by a microplate reader

Fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by a microplate reader in 26 patients with AD, 26 patients with MCI and 26 patients with NCs. The kits were from Zhongsheng Beikong Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China), and the specific operation methods were strictly in accordance with the kit instructions.

Serum SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, T-Tau, and P-tau-181 detection by ELISA

SIRT1, IL-6, Aβ1-42, T-Tau, and P-tau-181 levels in serum samples were measured by ELISA (Elabscience Inc., WH, China), as stated or reported by the manufacturer’s instructions. In simple terms, a microtiter plate coated with capture antibody was incubated with 100-μl serum samples from the case group and NC group for 1 h at 37° C. The detection antibody was added after washing and incubated for 30 min at room temperature. Adequate washing was carried out after each step. Following avidin-horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody and TMB substrate solution, stop solution was added to terminate the reaction. Eventually, every protein was determined at a special wavelength using a Model 96 microplate reader. Each sample was analyzed in duplicate.

Statistical analysis

SPSS 22.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, U.S.A.) was used to analyze all data for statistical significance. All data are presented as mean ±SD. For general demographic data, the χ² test was used for categorical variables and the Mann Whitney–Wilcoxon test was used for continuous variables. ANOVA was performed to ascertain any statistically significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative levels of proteins. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between the two biomarkers. ROC curves drawn assess diagnostic capability. AUC and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess discrimination ability. Values of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Consent for publication

Informed consent for publication of this report and any accompanying images was obtained from the participants

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.