DRG International Introduces ELISA Testing Kit for Alzheimer’s Disease Research

DRG International introduces the first immunoassay worldwide for the determination of serum auto-antibodies against Amyloid peptides, the DRG Amyloid β 1-40 (EIA-5231) ELISA Kit. The ELISA is part of a new product family, which supports the research in Alzheimer's disease.

The second test in this new product family is the Abeta-40 ELISA that allows quantification in research projects of Amyloid β 1-40 peptides from serum, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive function, which results from continuous degeneration of nerve cells. One of the visible signs of dying nerve cells is the accumulation of Amyloid plaques in the brain that are mainly composed of Amyloid-beta (Aβ) 40 and 42 peptides. These are small fragments of the large Amyloid precursor protein (APP) that can be found mainly in the brain, but also in large peripheral organs. The Aβ peptide plasma level is highly variable, depending on age, production rate and clearance rate of an individual person. Aβ peptides are cleared from plasma by degradation in the liver and by neutralization through auto-antibodies against Aβ peptides. These auto-antibodies prevent Aβ aggregation and initiate dissolution of preformed Aβ aggregates in the brain. Since Aβ peptide concentrations vary considerably between healthy individuals, it is difficult to set a cut-off value for differentiation between sporadic AD and controls. However, monitoring the individual increase or decrease of Aβ peptide levels over time has been shown promising to identify those individuals that eventually may develop AD in the future.

Therefore, Aβ peptides and anti-amyloid auto-antibodies may represent useful tools in diagnosing AD in the preclinical early stages. Additionally, they may have potential in therapy monitoring during Aβ peptide modifying therapies, since clearance of Aβ from the brain represents an important therapeutic strategy for prevention and treatment of AD. In fact, initial studies could demonstrate that immunotherapy with antibodies against Aβ peptides is effective to remove these peptides from the brain. However, this was associated with detrimental adverse effects, such as autoimmune meningoencephalitis and micro- hemorrhage. In consequence, recent therapeutic approaches aim for safer but still effective Aβ clearance.

Cyril E. Geacintov, Ph. D. or ‘Dr. G’ as he’s often called is the founder, CEO, and president of DRG. “The DRG Amyloid β 1-40 ELISA Kit will allow research laboratories to quickly and easily measure this Amyloid,” he says. “This will allow for more accurate detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in research samples.”

An exciting new product for the laboratory field, the DRG Amyloid β 1-40 (EIA-5231) ELISA Kit will give research labs, both large and small, the capacity to test for this valuable marker. DRG will be showcasing the Amyloid β 1-40 ELISA Kit at the AACC Conference later this month. The DRG Amyloid β 1-40 ELISA Kit is a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the sandwich principle. The kit is designed for research use only and will be available later this year.