Quantitative proteomics of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Alzheimer disease

Biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis and medical management of Alzheimer disease (AD) are a pressing need. We have employed a proteomic approach, microcapillary liquid chromatography mass spectrometry of proteins labeled with isotope-coded affinity tags (ICAT), to quantify relative changes in the proteome of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from the lumbar cistern. Using CSF from well-characterized AD patients and age-matched controls at 2 different institutions, we quantified protein concentration ratios of 42% of the 390 CSF proteins that we have identified and found differences ≥ 20% in over half of them. We confirmed our findings by western blot and validated this approach by quantifying relative levels of amyloid precursor protein and cathepsin B in 17 AD patients and 16 control individuals. Quantitative proteomics of CSF from AD patients compared to age-matched controls, as well as from other neurodegenerative diseases, will allow us to generate a roster of proteins that may serve as specific biomarker panels for AD and other geriatric dementias.