Multiplex analysis of serum biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently based on clinical and neuropsychological examination. However, it is difficult to diagnose accurately early AD. Recently, Molecular biomarkers are becoming potential diagnosis method for early AD. Serum protein is being the center of attention for AD diagnostic biomarker. We collected serum samples and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score data from 20 controls and 68 patients finally diagnosed with AD, and measured serum levels of Alzheimer related protein by Color-coded bead Technology. We found significant difference in several protein concentrations such as Ab42, glutamin synthetase, neurosin, s100-beta, transglutaminase2, ubiquitin, mutant ubiquitin. Moreover, our result also shows positive or negative correlation between MMSE scores and various biomarkers such as glutamin synthetase, S100-beta ubiquitin and mutant ubiquitin protein concentration. However, sensitivity and specificity is still poor. We propose here that multiple analysis of serum proteins increases test accuracy including sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of AD. That can be used to classify samples from Alzheimer’s and control subjects with close to 85% specificity and 82% sensitivity.