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- Darmanis, Spyros, et al.
(author)
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Sensitive plasma protein analysis by microparticle-based proximity ligation assays
- 2010
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In: Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. - 1535-9476 .- 1535-9484. ; 9:2, s. 327-335
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Detection of proteins released in the bloodstream from tissues damaged by disease can promote early detection of pathological conditions, differential diagnostics, and follow-up of therapy. Despite these prospects and a plethora of candidate biomarkers, efforts in recent years to establish new protein diagnostic assays have met with limited success. One important limiting factor has been the challenge of detecting proteins present at trace levels in complex bodily fluids. To achieve robust, sensitive, and specific detection, we have developed a microparticle-based solid-phase proximity ligation assay, dependent on simultaneous recognition of target proteins by three antibody molecules for added specificity. After capture on a microparticle, solid-phase pairs of proximity probes are added followed by washes, enabling detection and identification of rare protein molecules in blood while consuming small amounts of sample. We demonstrate that single polyclonal antibody preparations raised against target proteins of interest can be readily used to establish assays where detection depends on target recognition by three individual antibody molecules, recognizing separate epitopes. The assay was compared with state-of-the-art sandwich ELISAs for detection of vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8 and interleukin-6, and it was found to be superior both with regard to dynamic range and minimal numbers of molecules detected. Furthermore, the assays exhibited excellent performance in undiluted plasma and serum as well as in whole blood, producing comparable results for nine different antigens. We thus show that solid-phase proximity ligation assay is suitable for validation of a variety of protein biomarkers over broad dynamic ranges in clinical samples.
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| 2. |
- Kamali-Moghaddam, Masood, et al.
(author)
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Sensitive detection of A beta protofibrils by proximity ligation : relevance for Alzheimer's disease
- 2010
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In: BMC Neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2202. ; 11, s. 124-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Protein aggregation plays important roles in several neurodegenerative disorders. For instance, insoluble aggregates of phosphorylated tau and of A beta peptides are cornerstones in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Soluble protein aggregates are therefore potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for their cognate disorders. Detection of the aggregated species requires sensitive tools that efficiently discriminate them from monomers of the same proteins. Here we have established a proximity ligation assay (PLA) for specific and sensitive detection of A beta protofibrils via simultaneous recognition of three identical determinants present in the aggregates. PLA is a versatile technology in which the requirement for multiple target recognitions is combined with the ability to translate signals from detected target molecules to amplifiable DNA strands, providing very high specificity and sensitivity. Results: For specific detection of A beta protofibrils we have used a monoclonal antibody, mAb158, selective for A beta protofibrils in a modified PLA, where the same monoclonal antibody was used for the three classes of affinity reagents required in the assay. These reagents were used for detection of soluble Ab aggregates in solid- phase reactions, allowing detection of just 0.1 pg/ml A beta protofibrils, and with a dynamic range greater than six orders of magnitude. Compared to a sandwich ELISA setup of the same antibody the PLA increases the sensitivity of the Ab protofibril detection by up to 25- fold. The assay was used to measure soluble Ab aggregates in brain homogenates from mice transgenic for a human allele predisposing to A beta aggregation. Conclusions: The proximity ligation assay is a versatile analytical technology for proteins, which can provide highly sensitive and specific detection of A beta aggregates - and by implication other protein aggregates of relevance in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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