The extracellular domain of neurotrophin receptor p75 as a candidate biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Objective biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would facilitate the discovery of new treatments. The common neurotrophin receptor p75 is up regulated and the extracellular domain cleaved from injured neurons and peripheral glia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We have tested the hypothesis that urinary levels of extracellular neurotrophin receptor p75 serve as a biomarker for both human motor amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of the disease. The extracellular domain of neurotrophin receptor p75 was identified in the urine of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients by an immuno-precipitation/western blot procedure and confirmed by mass spectrometry. An ELISA was established to measure urinary extracellular neurotrophin receptor p75. The mean value for urinary extracellular neurotrophin receptor p75 from 28 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients measured by ELISA was 7.9±0.5 ng/mg creatinine and this was significantly higher (p<0.001) than 12 controls (2.6±0.2 ng/mg creatinine) and 19 patients with other neurological disease (Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis; 4.1±0.2 ng/mg creatinine). Pilot data of disease progression rates in 14 MND patients indicates that p75NTR(ECD) levels were significantly higher (p = 0.0041) in 7 rapidly progressing patients as compared to 7 with slowly progressing disease. Extracellular neurotrophin receptor p75 was also readily detected in SOD1(G93A) mice by immuno-precipitation/western blot before the onset of clinical symptoms. These findings indicate a significant relation between urinary extracellular neurotrophin receptor p75 levels and disease progression and suggests that it may be a useful marker of disease activity and progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Department of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Stephanie R
SR
Shepheard
Department of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Tim
T
Chataway
Neurology Department and MND Clinic, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
David W
DW
Schultz
Department of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Robert A
RA
Rush
Department of Human Physiology and Centre for Neuroscience, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Mary-Louise
ML
Rogers
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003404:Creatinine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D003404:Creatinine; C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase