Quantification of SNAP-25 with mass spectrometry and Simoa: a method comparison in Alzheimer's disease

• Background Synaptic dysfunction and degeneration are central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have been found to correlate strongly with cognitive decline. Thus, studying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers reflecting synaptic degeneration, such as the presynaptic protein synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), is of importance to better understand the AD pathophysiology. Methods We compared a newly developed Single molecule array (Simoa) immunoassay for SNAP-25 with an in-house immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry (IP-MS) method in a well-characterized clinical cohort (n = 70) consisting of cognitively unimpaired (CU) and cognitively impaired (CI) individuals with and without A beta pathology (A beta+ and A beta-). Results A strong correlation (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r(s)) > 0.88; p < 0.0001) was found between the Simoa and IP-MS methods, and no statistically significant difference was found for their clinical performance to identify AD pathophysiology in the form of A beta pathology. Increased CSF SNAP-25 levels in CI A beta+ compared with CU A beta- (Simoa, p <= 0.01; IP-MS, p <= 0.05) and CI A beta- (Simoa, p <= 0.01; IP-MS, p <= 0.05) were observed. In independent blood samples (n = 32), the Simoa SNAP-25 assay was found to lack analytical sensitivity for quantification of SNAP-25 in plasma. Conclusions These results indicate that the Simoa SNAP-25 method can be used interchangeably with the IP-MS method for the quantification of SNAP-25 in CSF. Additionally, these results confirm that CSF SNAP-25 is increased in relation to amyloid pathology in the AD continuum.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease

Synaptic pathology

Mass spectrometry

Biomarkers

SNAP-25

cerebrospinal-fluid

synaptic vesicle

biomarkers

correlate

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)