Methods of detecting a fragment of neurosecretory protein vgf for diagnosing alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The present invention provides a neurosecretory protein VGF peptide useful in qualifying Alzheimer's disease status in a patient. In particular, this peptide and modified forms thereof may be used to classify a subject sample as Alzheimer's disease or non-Alzheimer's disease. The peptide biomarker can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising a purified VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising a biospecific capture reagent that specifically binds VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the biospecific capture reagent is an antibody. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the biospecific capture reagent is bound to a solid support. 
     
     
         23 . A composition comprising a biospecific capture reagent bound to VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         24 . A kit comprising: (a) a solid support comprising at least one capture reagent attached thereto, wherein the capture reagent binds VGF peptide-1; and (b) instructions for using the solid support to detect said VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24  comprising instructions for using the solid support to detect said VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein the solid support comprising a capture reagent is a SELDI probe. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein the capture reagent is an anion-exchange adsorbent. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 24 , additionally comprising: (c) a container containing VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 24 , additionally comprising: (c) an anion-exchange chromatography sorbent. 
     
     
         30 . A kit comprising: (a) a solid support comprising at least one capture reagent attached thereto, wherein the capture reagents binds VGF peptide-1; and (b) a container containing VGF peptide-1. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the solid support comprising a capture reagent is a SELDI probe. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 30 , additionally comprising: (c) an anion-exchange chromatography sorbent. 
     
     
         33 . A software product comprising: a. code that accesses data attributed to a sample, the data comprising measurement of VGF peptide-1; and b. code that executes a classification algorithm that classifies the Alzheimer's disease status of the sample as a function of the measurement. 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising detecting VGF peptide-1 in a sample, or
 a method comprising communicating to a subject a diagnosis relating to Alzheimer's disease status determined from the correlation of at least VGF peptide-1 in a sample from the subject, or   a method for identifying a compound that interacts with VGF peptide-1, wherein said method comprises: a) contacting said biomarker with a test compound; and b) determining whether the test compound interacts with said biomarker, or   a method for modulating the concentration of the VGF peptide-1 in a cell, wherein said method comprises: a) contacting said cell with a protease inhibitor, wherein said protease inhibitor prevents cleavage of native VGF protein,   a method of treating a condition in a subject, wherein said method comprises: administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protease inhibitor, wherein said protease inhibitor prevents cleavage of native VGF protein.   
     
     
         35 - 40 . (canceled)