Quantification of plasma tau species containing the proline-rich region as a biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease

TL;DR

This study explores a new blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease by detecting specific tau protein fragments containing the proline-rich region.

Contribution

The development of a novel polyclonal antibody targeting proline-rich tau species in plasma for Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Findings

The P.pAb-P.pAb assay showed a 1.4-fold increase in AD patients compared to controls.

The pTau217-P.pAb assay demonstrated a 2.8-fold increase in AD patients.

A commercial total-tau assay failed to distinguish between AD and control groups.

Abstract

Tau-based blood biomarkers are increasingly recognised as important for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). More than 60 proteolytic cleavage sites of tau have been identified, and current assays may miss critical information from some of the smaller protein fragments. By capturing a broader range of tau species, a polyclonal approach may offer greater interrogation of this complex “tauosome” and deliver valuable insights into the onset or progression of AD. A sheep was hyper-immunised with 2N4R tau113-251 peptide, encompassing the proline-rich region. An affinity-purified proline region polyclonal antibody (P.pAb) was derived from sheep serum, after four rounds of immunisation. Following characterisation of P.pAb, utility as a plasma biomarker/diagnostic agent for AD was assessed using a single molecular array (Simoa) assay in a selected cohort consisting of clinically diagnosed AD patients and age-matched cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. Two assays were considered for this assessment including pairing the P.pAb with itself (P.pAb-P.pAb) to capture and detect multiple tau fragments in plasma, and pairing pTau217 capture mAb with P.pAb (pTau217-P.pAb). The P.pAb showed high affinity towards full-length tau and 113–251 peptide immunogen and bound smaller 13-amino acid (aa) fragments throughout the proline rich region. The selected patient cohort was initially assessed by commercial neurofilament light (NfL) and pTau217 assays, the results of which were consistent with AD-related neurodegeneration in the AD sample and not in the CU group. The P.pAb-P.pAb and the pTau217-P.pAb assays were each able to distinguish between CU and AD groups; values were greater in AD (1.4-fold, p < 0.0001 and 2.8-fold, p < 0.001, respectively). By contrast, a commercial total-tau (T-tau) assay did not distinguish between the two groups. We demonstrate the feasibility of an immunodiagnostic approach based on the detection of tau species containing the proline-rich region. The development of an affinity-purified proline region-specific pAb, capable of detecting multiple tau species in plasma, provides the foundation for a novel approach with potential applications in AD diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-25864-x.

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