Identification of Apo B48 and other novel biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient fibroblasts

Abstract

Aim: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder. 90–95% of ALS cases are sporadic with no clear risk factors associated with the disease. Identification of biomarkers associated with ALS may lead to early detection and make it more amenable to therapeutic intervention. Materials & methods: SILAC was used to quantitatively analyze the proteomes of ALS and control human fibroblasts. Results: Out of total of 861 proteins identified, 33 were found to be differentially regulated. ApoB48 and Hsp20 were downregulated, while Fibulin-1 was upregulated. Conclusion: We report the differential regulation of these proteins in ALS fibroblasts, and their potential as novel biomarkers and possible drug targets for ALS.