An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels

Abstract Background Diffusible Aβ oligomers (oAβ) confer cytotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. The dynamic complexity of this hydrophobic analyte means few immunoassays exist to quantify oAβ in CSF and plasma. Methods We characterized antibody 71A1 to a cyclized dimer of Aβ9-18 for oAβ preference ove...

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Main Authors: Ting Yang, Yi Ran Xu, Shanxue Jin, Nagendran Ramalingam, Jean-Pierre Bellier, Alexandra M. Lish, Beth L. Ostaszewski, Tracy Young-Pearse, Lei Liu, Hyun-Sik Yang, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Trebor L. Lawton, Dennis J. Selkoe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01802-x
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author Ting Yang
Yi Ran Xu
Shanxue Jin
Nagendran Ramalingam
Jean-Pierre Bellier
Alexandra M. Lish
Beth L. Ostaszewski
Tracy Young-Pearse
Lei Liu
Hyun-Sik Yang
Jasmeer P. Chhatwal
Trebor L. Lawton
Dennis J. Selkoe
author_facet Ting Yang
Yi Ran Xu
Shanxue Jin
Nagendran Ramalingam
Jean-Pierre Bellier
Alexandra M. Lish
Beth L. Ostaszewski
Tracy Young-Pearse
Lei Liu
Hyun-Sik Yang
Jasmeer P. Chhatwal
Trebor L. Lawton
Dennis J. Selkoe
author_sort Ting Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diffusible Aβ oligomers (oAβ) confer cytotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. The dynamic complexity of this hydrophobic analyte means few immunoassays exist to quantify oAβ in CSF and plasma. Methods We characterized antibody 71A1 to a cyclized dimer of Aβ9-18 for oAβ preference over monomers by surface plasmon resonance. We improved an earlier bead-based immunoassay by using 71A1 streptavidin plates for capture and N-terminal antibody 3D6 for detection. Numerous controls systematically validated accuracy. Results 71A1 showed highly selective binding kinetics to Aβ oligomers over monomers. It enriched bioactive oligomers from AD brain that altered neuronal excitatory currents and calcium transients. 71A1/3D6 immunoassay exhibited specificity and reproducibility in human biofluids. CSF oAβ levels correlated positively with CSF tau and phosphorylated-tau-181. APP and PS1 FAD mutations increased oAβ levels in human neuronal media. Conclusions CSF oAβ levels rise in concert with rising tau levels. A new plate-based ELISA offers improved consistency, less sample volume, and lower cost, thus better suited to quantify this challenging analyte.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
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series Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy
spelling doaj-art-a97c9882b22547e69ae044b5ae6f32e22025-08-20T04:01:52ZengBMCAlzheimer’s Research & Therapy1758-91932025-07-0117111910.1186/s13195-025-01802-xAn improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levelsTing Yang0Yi Ran Xu1Shanxue Jin2Nagendran Ramalingam3Jean-Pierre Bellier4Alexandra M. Lish5Beth L. Ostaszewski6Tracy Young-Pearse7Lei Liu8Hyun-Sik Yang9Jasmeer P. Chhatwal10Trebor L. Lawton11Dennis J. Selkoe12Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolCenter for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolCenter for Alzheimer Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolAbyssinia Biologics, IncDepartment of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Background Diffusible Aβ oligomers (oAβ) confer cytotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. The dynamic complexity of this hydrophobic analyte means few immunoassays exist to quantify oAβ in CSF and plasma. Methods We characterized antibody 71A1 to a cyclized dimer of Aβ9-18 for oAβ preference over monomers by surface plasmon resonance. We improved an earlier bead-based immunoassay by using 71A1 streptavidin plates for capture and N-terminal antibody 3D6 for detection. Numerous controls systematically validated accuracy. Results 71A1 showed highly selective binding kinetics to Aβ oligomers over monomers. It enriched bioactive oligomers from AD brain that altered neuronal excitatory currents and calcium transients. 71A1/3D6 immunoassay exhibited specificity and reproducibility in human biofluids. CSF oAβ levels correlated positively with CSF tau and phosphorylated-tau-181. APP and PS1 FAD mutations increased oAβ levels in human neuronal media. Conclusions CSF oAβ levels rise in concert with rising tau levels. A new plate-based ELISA offers improved consistency, less sample volume, and lower cost, thus better suited to quantify this challenging analyte.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01802-xAlzheimer’s diseaseBiomarkersAmyloid β-proteinOligomeric AβTauMonitoring
spellingShingle Ting Yang
Yi Ran Xu
Shanxue Jin
Nagendran Ramalingam
Jean-Pierre Bellier
Alexandra M. Lish
Beth L. Ostaszewski
Tracy Young-Pearse
Lei Liu
Hyun-Sik Yang
Jasmeer P. Chhatwal
Trebor L. Lawton
Dennis J. Selkoe
An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy
Alzheimer’s disease
Biomarkers
Amyloid β-protein
Oligomeric Aβ
Tau
Monitoring
title An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
title_full An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
title_fullStr An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
title_full_unstemmed An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
title_short An improved immunoassay detects Aβ oligomers in human biofluids: their CSF levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
title_sort improved immunoassay detects aβ oligomers in human biofluids their csf levels rise with tau and phosphotau levels
topic Alzheimer’s disease
Biomarkers
Amyloid β-protein
Oligomeric Aβ
Tau
Monitoring
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01802-x
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