Amyloid b (Ab) is the peptide that accumulates in the brain in Alzheimer's disease and certain classes of cerebrovascular angiopathy. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive formation in the brain of insoluble amyloid plaques and vascular deposits consisting of the 4-kD Ab-peptide.  Ab generation is initiated by proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) at the N-terminal of Ab by b-secretase.  The Ab peptide is then released by proteolytic cleavage at its C-terminus by g-secretase.  The insoluble Ab peptide forms aggregates in the vessels and senile plaques of AD brains.

A rabbit antiserum to a synthetic peptide that corresponds to amino acids 1-14 of the N-terminal sequence of Ab has been produced and is currently available.  This antiserum has been shown to be immunoreactive with the unconjugated immunizing peptide by ELISA.  This antiserum is capable of detecting Ab by immunohistochemistry or protein immunoblots and will identify it from other CNS amyloids. Using formic acid treatment of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, this antiserum will detect both cerebrovascularand core Ab in senile plaques. It will also detect Ab on immunoblots of formic acid extracts of brain tissue. The immunohistochemical detection of Ab has been shown to be more sensitive than histochemical methods.  This antibody should be a valuable tool for scientists working to understand the role of Ab in Alzheimer’s disease.

This antiserum was produced using proprietary methodology whereby the peptide is attached to a carrier that elicits minimal immunoreactivity so that the antiserum has a higher degree of specificity for the peptide.  Since there is no overwhelming production of interfering antibodies to the carrier, this antiserum can routinely be used without further purification.  Pseud-Immune™ Control Immune Serum (Cat no. GPA018E) from a mock immunized animal is available to be used in conjunction with this antibody as well as a control immunizing peptide (Cat no. HSP002N) that can be  used in conjunction with this antibody to neutralize immunoreactivity.

Manufacturing Reference:

Southwest Immunology, Inc., Unpublished results.