Neurodegenerative Disease related Antibody Products

Neurodegenerative disorders are increasingly imposing a global burden. Investigations in this domain have revealed certain biological understandings. A majority of neurodegenerative disorders exhibit shared pathogenic pathways. Amerigo Scientific provides antibodies pertinent to neurodegenerative diseases, serving as crucial tools for advancing neuroscience research. These antibodies aid our esteemed customers in examining proteins linked to the pathogenesis of these conditions and can be utilized in biomarker assays for early diagnosis.

Introduction of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a diverse set of disorders marked by the progressive degeneration of specific neuron populations, contrasting with the static neuronal loss seen in metabolic or toxic conditions. This neuronal damage often leads to cell death. Generally, neurodegenerative diseases are classified into acute and chronic forms. Besides, neurodegenerative diseases are also usually classified according to their primary clinical features, with the most prevalent being extrapyramidal and pyramidal movement disorders, along with cognitive or behavioral disorders. Most patients exhibit mixed clinical features rather than pure syndromes.

Fig.1 Impacts and strategies for managing neurodegenerative diseases.^{1, 3}

Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders are becoming more prevalent, partly due to the aging population's growth in recent years. These conditions vary widely in their underlying mechanisms–some impair memory and cognition, while others impact motor function, speech, and breathing. Although these diseases are characterized by distinct protein accumulations and specific areas of vulnerability in the brain, they also share common processes contributing to progressive neuronal dysfunction and death. These include proteotoxic stress with associated disruptions in ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy-lysosome systems, oxidative stress, programmed cell death, and neuroinflammation.

Immune Inflammation

Immune activation within the central nervous system (CNS), seen in ischemia and infections, often exacerbates neuronal damage, particularly through microglial involvement. Despite diverse triggers, chronic immune activation, notably of CNS macrophages, remains a consistent feature. Beyond their role in pathology, immune responses are increasingly recognized for their dual impact on neurodegeneration. The innate immune system, developed over evolution, rapidly defends against various threats but can harm the brain when persistently activated by harmful substances.

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress results from a disparity between the body's antioxidant mechanisms and the generation of pro-oxidants, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species such as OH-, O-, and NO. This phenomenon is intricately linked to the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Lipid peroxidation, particularly of unsaturated lipids like linoleic and arachidonic acids, is a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress. It initiates a chain reaction where radicals attack double bonds, leading to the formation of breakdown products. These molecules show elevated levels in the affected brain tissues and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with these diseases, underscoring their association with oxidative damage and disease progression.

Fig.2 Sources of ROS/RNS and their role in disease pathology.^{2, 3}

Classification of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Alzheimer's disease

• The most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder;
• Leading to the degeneration of synapses and neurons in the cerebral cortex and specific subcortical regions;
• Pathology is chiefly defined by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques.

Parkinson's disease

• The neurodegenerative disorder with the second highest prevalence;
• Typically presenting with bradykinesia, postural instability, resting tremor, and rigidity;
• Characteristic features include the loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra, situated in the midbrain.

Huntington's disease

• An uncommon neurodegenerative condition;
• It is marked by the presence of astrogliosis and the depletion of medium spiny neurons. Caused by mutations in the huntingtin gene;
• It arises from the elongation of the polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin gene, resulting in the formation of abnormal huntingtin protein.

Multiple sclerosis

• A chronic, debilitating demyelinating disease;
• Driven by an autoimmune attack that leads to the progressive loss of the myelin sheath surrounding neuronal axons;
• Its progression is marked by episodic increases in inflammation, thought to result from the release of antigens such as myelin basic protein, etc., which trigger an autoimmune response.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• A rare neurodegenerative disorder;
• Marked by the progressive degeneration of both lower motor neurons (LMNs) and upper motor neurons (UMNs);
• The exact etiology of ALS remains unclear.

Batten disease

• A rare, fatal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests in childhood;
• Characterized by epilepsy, vision loss, and so on, presenting a severe clinical profile;
• It denotes a cluster of lysosomal storage conditions recognized as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, each resulting from distinct gene mutations.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

• A prion disorder;
• Marked by rapidly progressive dementia;
• It is driven by the aggregation of misfolded prion proteins in brain tissue, resulting in neuronal death.

Amerigo Scientific provides an extensive range of recombinant antibodies available in various species, isotypes, and configurations. Should you not find the specific antibody you need, our bespoke antibody engineering services are ready to accommodate your requirements. Explore our catalog of antibodies related to neurodegenerative diseases or reach out to us for inquiries or quotations. We are eager to assist you.