We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Early Plasma Biomarkers Discovered for Alzheimer's Disease

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Feb 2021
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the predominant form of dementia and the most common neurodegenerative disorder. More...
Advanced age and the presence of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) are the most relevant late‐onset sporadic AD‐promoting factors as they interact with the core mechanisms of this neurologic disorder.

ApoE is essential to modulate cerebral lipid homeostasis and neurogenesis with the ApoE4 isoform promoting less efficiently the transport of essential lipids to neurons. In addition, proteolytic degradation of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is compromised in APOE ε4 carriers, thus increasing amyloidosis and the risk of progression to AD.

Medical Scientists from the Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique (Laval, QC, Canada) analyzed blood samples collected as part of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA). The population studied consisted of patients with cognitive problems, but not suffering from dementia, and only some of whom developed Alzheimer's disease. The team determined levels of pathogenic, neurotrophic and inflammatory proteins in peripheral extracellular vesicles (pEVs) and in plasma from cognitively impaired, no dementia (CIND) participants stratified upon the absence (APOE ε4‐) or the presence (APOE ε4+ ) of the ε4 allele of APOE.

The scientists used the following methods to determine the results: various pEVs suspensions were diluted in ultra‐pure filtered water (1:1000) and injected into the NanoSight NS300 system (Malvern Panalytical instruments, Inc., Malvern, UK); Western blot analysis; Dual immune‐labeling of pEVs with image analysis was performed using the Zeiss LSM780 laser scanning confocal microscope (Zeiss, Jena, Germany). The pEVs’ protein content of BDNF, APP, NSE, NPTX‐2, α‐Syn, DJ‐1, MMP‐9, S100B, PrGN, LCN‐2, and ANGPTL‐4 was determined by the multiplex Luminex assay and the accumulation of the protein fragments Aβ1‐40, Aβ1‐42 and different forms of the protein tau (t‐tau and p‐tau181) were evaluated by another Luminex assay (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, USA).

The scientists reported that levels of neurotrophic and inflammatory markers were reduced in pEVs from APOE ε4+. The pentraxin‐2/α‐synuclein ratio measured in pEVs was able to predict AD five years before the onset among APOE ε4+‐CIND individuals. Patients with this gene who developed the disease five years later had markers present that varied with the progression of the disease. The presence of APOE ε4 does not impact on the levels of Aβ1‐42, t‐tau, and p‐tau181, and the ratio Aβ1‐42/p‐tau181 in pEVs. The profile of inflammatory and trophic factors measured in CIND patients showed that APOE ε4 is associated with lower levels of neurotrophic markers such as DJ‐1, PrGN, and α‐Syn, with a higher discriminating capacity in pEVs compared to plasma except for α‐Syn.

The authors concluded that their study provided comprehensive insight and enhanced the knowledge of the emerging role of APOE ε4 in abnormal pEVs cargo proteins processing and the identification of blood‐based biomarkers. The measurement of ratio between NPTX‐2 and α‐Syn in pEVs might be an innovative strategy for monitoring the conversion of CIND patients to AD. The study was published on January 28, 2021 in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.

Related Links:
Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique
Malvern Panalytical Instruments, Inc
Zeiss
Luminex Corporation



New
Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Pan-Cancer Panel
TruSight Oncology 500
New
Drug Test Kit
DrugCheck 3000
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.