A Sensitive and Cost-Effective Chemiluminescence ELISA for Measurement of Amyloid-β 1-42 Peptide in Human Plasma

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mehta, Pankaj D.^{a; *} | Patrick, Bruce A.^a | Miller, David L.^a | Coyle, Patricia K.^b | Wisniewski, Thomas^c

Affiliations: [a] New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA | [b] Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA | [c] Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Pankaj D. Mehta, PhD, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314-6399, USA. Tel.: +1 718 494 5159; Fax: +1 718 982 6345; E-mail: pdmehtaphd@gmail.com.

Abstract: Background:Amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) is associated with plaque formation in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Studies have suggested the potential utility of plasma Aβ42 levels in the diagnosis, and in longitudinal study of AD pathology. Conventional ELISAs are used to measure Aβ42 levels in plasma but are not sensitive enough to quantitate low levels. Although ultrasensitive assays like single molecule array or immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry have been developed to quantitate plasma Aβ42 levels, the high cost of instruments and reagents limit their use. Objective:We hypothesized that a sensitive and cost-effective chemiluminescence (CL) immunoassay could be developed to detect low Aβ42 levels in human plasma. Methods:We developed a sandwich ELISA using high affinity rabbit monoclonal antibody specific to Aβ42. The sensitivity of the assay was increased using CL substrate to quantitate low levels of Aβ42 in plasma. We examined the levels in plasma from 13 AD, 25 Down syndrome (DS), and 50 elderly controls. Results:The measurement range of the assay was 0.25 to 500 pg/ml. The limit of detection was 1 pg/ml. All AD, DS, and 45 of 50 control plasma showed measurable Aβ42 levels. Conclusion:This assay detects low levels of Aβ42 in plasma and does not need any expensive equipment or reagents. It offers a preferred alternative to ultrasensitive assays. Since the antibodies, peptide, and substrate are commercially available, the assay is well suited for academic or diagnostic laboratories, and has a potential for the diagnosis of AD or in clinical trials.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ₄₂) peptide, chemiluminescence, ELISA, plasma, rabbit monoclonal antibody (RabmAb) to Aβ₄₂, sensitive and cost-effective method

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-200861

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 1237-1244, 2020