Proteomic studies of potential cerebrospinal fluid protein markers for Alzheimer's disease

By comparing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome between Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and controls, it may be possible to identify proteins that play a role in the disease process and thus to study the pathogenesis of AD. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), SYPRO Ruby staining and mass spectrometry were used for clinical screening of disease-influenced CSF proteins in AD patients compared to controls. In order to increase the detection of CSF proteins and to improve the separation of protein isoforms in a 2-D gel, micro-narrow range IPG strips were used. The levels of eight proteins and their isoforms, including apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein J, beta-trace, retinol-binding protein, kininogen, alpha-1 antitrypsin, cell cycle progression 8 protein, and alpha-1beta glycoprotein were significantly altered in CSF of AD patients compared to controls. Furthermore, we also used liquid-phase IEF, as a prefractionation step, prior to 2-DE for comparison of CSF proteins between individual AD patients and controls. The levels of 37 proteins spots were altered in AD patients. One of the identified proteins, alpha-2-HS glycoprotein, has not previously been linked to AD. Our study shows that several glycoproteins are altered in AD.