Biomarkers for diagnosing alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A method for assessing the state of Alzheimer's disease in patients is disclosed. A method for monitoring the progression of Alzheimer's disease in patients is also disclosed. The method applies detection of specific peptide markers, e.g., using mass spectrometric analysis.

1 . Method of assessing the state of Alzheimer's disease in a subject comprising detecting one or more polypeptides selected from the group of polypeptides having, molecular masses of 4824±20 Da, of 7691±20 Da, of 11787±20 Da, of 11988±20 Da, of 13416±20 Da, of 4769±20 Da, of 6958±20 Da, of 6991±20 Da, of 13412±20 Da, of 13787±20 Da, of 17276±20 Da, of 40437±20 Da, of 6895±20 Da, of 6928±20 Da, of 7691±20 Da, of 7769±20 Da, of 7934±20 Da, of 5082±20 Da, of 6267±20 Da, of 6518±20 Da, of 7274 2±0 Da, and of 8209±20 Da.  
     
     
         2 . Method of  claim 1  in which at least 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 10 or all polypeptides of said group of peptides are detected.  
     
     
         3 . Method of assessing the state of Alzheimer's disease in a subject comprising detecting one or more polypeptides comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16 and/or SEQ ID NO:17.  
     
     
         4 . Method of assessing the state of Alzheimer's disease in a subject comprising detecting one or more polypeptides selected from the group of polypeptides consisting of 
 i) human cystatin C,    ii) human beta-2-microglobulin,    iii) human myoglobin (new variant)    iv) neurosecretory protein VGF,    v) a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human cystatin C,    vi) a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human beta-2-microglobulin,    vii) a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human myoglobin (new variant), and    viii) a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of neurosecretory protein VGF.    
     
     
         5 . Method of investigating the progression of Alzheimer's disease in a subject characterized in that a method of any of  claims 1  to  4  is performed with at least two distinct samples drawn from the same subject.  
     
     
         6 . Method of  claim 1 , wherein detection of said polypeptide(s) is by SELDI-TOF MS.  
     
     
         7 . Method of  claim 1 , wherein specific antibodies or antibodies recognizing said polypeptides are used for detection of said polypeptide(s).  
     
     
         8 . Method of  claim 1 , wherein detection is in a sample comprising CSF, blood, serum, plasma, urine, seminal plasma, nipple fluid, and/or cell extracts of said patient.  
     
     
         9 . A kit comprising polypeptides having a molecular mass of 4824±20 Da, of 7691±20 Da, of 11787±20 Da, of 11988±20 Da, of 13416±20 Da, of 4769±20 Da, of 6958±20 Da, of 6991±20 Da, of 13412±20 Da, of 13787±20 Da, of 17276±20 Da, of 40437±20 Da, of 6895±20 Da, of 6928±20 Da, of 7691±20 Da, of 7769±20 Da, of 7934±20 Da, of 5082±20 Da, of 6267±20 Da, of 6518±20 Da, of 7274±20 Da, and/or of 8209±20 Da.  
     
     
         10 . A kit comprising a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human cystatin C, a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human beta-2-microglobulin, a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of human myoglobin (new variant), and a fragment of at least 5 amino acids of neurosecretory protein VGF.