P1‐044: TREM2 GENETIC VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND FRONTOTEMPORAL LOBAR DEGENERATION

Background: Circulating micro (mi) RNAs have been reported as promising biomarkers with great accuracy for neurodegenerative disorders and processes affecting the central nervous system, particularly in aging, Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Aim of this study is to identify specific circulating miRNAs in serum as possible biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A specific PCR array containing 84 common miRNAs was used to screen miRNA serum levels in 7 patients with AD and 6 Non-Inflammatory Neurological Controls (NINDCs). Best hits were first validated by real time PCR in an independent cohort consisting of 15 serum samples fromADpatients and 12NINDCs, comparing them also to 10 subjects affected by frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and 8 Inflammatory Neurological Controls (INDCs). Finally, the same analysis was conducted also in samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results: Statistically significant decreased levels of miR-125b, miR-223, miR-23a and miR-26b were observed in AD patients compared to NINDCs (-5.5, -4.5, -5.0 and -6.3 fold regulation over NINDCs respectively, p