Quantitation of IgG and albumin in CSF and serum from multiple sclerosis patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Quantitative matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (MALDI-FT-ICR) peptide profiling and identification of multiple-sclerosis-related proteins

We introduce a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (MALDI-FT-ICR) method for quantitative peptide profiling, using peak height as a measure for abundance. Relative standard deviations in peak height of peptides spiked over 3 orders of magnitude in concentration were below 10% and allowed for accurate comparisons between multiple sclerosis and controls. Application on a set of 163 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples showed significantly differential abundant peptides, which were subsequently identified into proteins (e.g., chromogranin A, clusterin, and complement C3).

Measurement of intraocular IgA and IgM synthesis and filtration through the blood-aqueous barrier in cataract patients

The authors have tested two formulas by means of which the filtrated and the intraocularly (intrathecally) synthesized fraction of particular protein can be distinguished. The laser nephelometric method was applied to determine the serum (IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, albumin), aqueous humor (IgA, IgM, albumin) and CSF (IgG, IgM, C3, albumin) protein values in 42 subjects to test two models in physiological conditions. It was confirmed that the best results were achieved using the formula after Stambuk. Computer simulation performed to compare the formulas after Stambuk and Reiber & Felgenhauer showed a strong correlation (r greater than 0.98) between the calculated filtrated fractions of both models in a wide range of different barrier permeabilities. Laser nephelometry proved to be a useful method to determine low IgA and IgM values in aqueous humor.

Simple method for rapid and highly sensitive detection of antiviral-antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of small laboratory animals

A technique is described for the small-scale determination of antibodies in blood and liquor. Small sample volumes of about 3 microliter blood and 15 microliter liquor are sufficient to detect even low antibody titers against different proteins. Thus, for studying the timecourse of antibody titers, repeated examinations of small laboratory animals are possible. The method includes the highly reproducible separation of the antigens in a 45 X 35 X 0.5 mm polyacrylamide gel (6.5%) using the Phast-system (Pharmacia), followed by electrotransfer and immunostaining. The whole procedure takes less than five hours.