BACKGROUND: Common polymorphisms of genes controlling inflammation-modulating cytokines and acute-phase proteins which play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been shown to be associated with AD. AIMS: The immunological and immunogenetic markers potentially useful for the AD risk evaluation and diagnosis are briefly reviewed. CONCLUSION: The state-of-the-art of immunological and immunogenetic markers of AD indicates that new tools and strategies are necessary to identify gene products useful as diagnostic tools.
BACKGROUND: Common polymorphisms of genes controlling inflammation-modulating cytokines and acute-phase proteins which play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been shown to be associated with AD. AIMS: The immunological and immunogenetic markers potentially useful for the AD risk evaluation and diagnosis are briefly reviewed. CONCLUSION: The state-of-the-art of immunological and immunogenetic markers of AD indicates that new tools and strategies are necessary to identify gene products useful as diagnostic tools.