Some Advanced Biomarkers of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Focus on Cystatin C

Abstract

The search for biological markers of neurodegenerative diseases, namely, Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) diseases, is actual problem for fundamental biology and modern medicine. The aim of this review was to present some new results on biomarkers of these neurodegenerative disorders, mainly in biological fluids, like plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Novel biomarkers in AD include plasma assays for amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau and PET (positron emission tomography) scans, which show great promise for clinical and research use. In PD research, serum cystatin C (Cst3) and homocystein in PD patients were higher than in serum of the normal control group and they were considered as new inflammatory biomarkers. Cst3 in biological fluids was suggested as a promising biomarker for diagnosing PD. Recently, extracellular vesicles (exosomes) have been reported as a new concept in the biomarker field. Serving as transfer vehicles between cells, they represent a promising source of biomarkers for a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. To date, developmental mechanisms and approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (AD, PD) seemingly are extremely relevant, requiring common solutions and the development of new approaches.