Randox Laboratories Limited

Maria Zellner

Ellen Umlauf

Michael Veitinger

Rudolf Oehler

The present invention provides a novel method of in vitro sample preparation for the analysis of proteins. In a first aspect, the present invention is a method comprising the separation and individual treatment of blood platelets and platelet-poor plasma obtained from a platelet-rich plasma sample. This allows for optimal treatment of both fractions and overcomes many of the problems associated with current methods. In a second aspect of the present invention the platelet sample preparation method can be implemented before a biochip based immunoassay for the detection of platelet proteins in combination with plasma proteins.

Sample preparation method for analysis of platelet proteins

The present invention provides an in vitro method to aid the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), comprising determining the level of expression of one or more tropomyosin isoform(s) corresponding to P09493-3 and/or P09493-1 in a patient's sample. A kit comprising probes that bind to tropomyosin isoforms P09493-3 and P09493-1 is also provided.

Tropomyosin isoforms related to alzheimers disease and mild cognitive impairment

The present invention provides an ex vivo method for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a patient comprising: (i) determining the number of alleles of ApoE4 in the patient's genome; (ii) determining the combined expression level of at least three platelet proteins in a platelet sample from the patient; and (iii) comparing the resulting value of step (ii) to a control value, wherein the at least three platelet proteins include at least one isoform of alpha-tropomyosin containing exon 1a and at least two platelet proteins selected from monoamine oxidase-B, coagulation factor XIIIa, wild-type GSTO-1 or mutant GSTO-1, wherein a result higher than the control value is indicative of Alzheimer's disease. The invention also provides a solid support comprising one or more ligands of at least one isoform of alpha-tropomyosin containing exon 1a, and one or more ligands of at least two platelet proteins selected from monoamine oxidase-B, coagulation factor XIIIa, wild-type GSTO-1 protein and/or mutant GSTO-1 protein immobilized thereon.

Method for aiding diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

The present invention provides an ex vivo method for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a patient, the method comprising the steps of determining the level of expression of at least four platelet proteins in a platelet sample from the patient selected from monoamine oxidase-B, coagulation factor Xllla, total tropomyosin (a and 13), WD-repeat protein 1 and apolipoprotein E4; and comparing the result of (i) to a control value, wherein a result higher than the control value is indicative of Alzheimer's disease. Preferably, the method of the invention further comprises determining the level of expression of wild-type GSTO-1 or mutant GSTO-1.

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Vienna, Austria

Maria Zellner