Proximity extension assay testing reveals novel diagnostic biomarkers of atypical parkinsonian syndromes
Publication: Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
Edwin Jabbari, John Woodside, Tong Guo, Nadia K Magdalinou, Viorica Chelban, Dilan Athauda, Andrew J Lees, Thomas Foltynie, Henry Houlden, Alistair Church, Michele TM Hu, James B Rowe, Henrik Zetterberg, Huw R Morris
13 March 2019
The high degree of clinical overlap between atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) makes diagnosis challenging. The researchers aimed to identify novel diagnostic protein biomarkers of APS using multiplex proximity extension assay (PEA) testing.
The biological processes regulated by the significant proteins include cell differentiation and immune cell migration. Delta and notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor (DNER) had the strongest effect size in APS versus controls and APS versus PD analyses. DNER is highly expressed in substantia nigra and is an activator of the NOTCH1 pathway which has been implicated in the aetiology of other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.
PEA testing has identified potential novel diagnostic biomarkers of APS.