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Inc., Unpublished results.