Development of mature BDNF‐specific sandwich ELISA

Mature brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) plays a vital role in the nervous system, whereas proBDNF elicits neurodegeneration and neuronal apoptosis. Although current enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been widely used to measure BDNF levels, it cannot differentiate mBDNF from proBDNF. As the function of proBDNF differs from mBDNF, it is necessary to establish an ELISA assay specific for the detection of mBDNF. Therefore, we aimed to establish a new mBDNF‐specific sandwich ELISA. In this study, we have screened and found a combination of antibodies for a sandwich ELISA. A monoclonal antibody and sheep anti‐BDNF were chosen as capture and detection antibody for sandwich ELISA respectively. The new ELISA showed no cross‐reactivity to human recombinant NT‐3, NT‐4, nerve growth factor and negligible cross‐reactivity (0.99–4.99%) for proBDNF compared to commercial ELISA kits (33.18–91.09%). The application of the new mBDNF ELISA was shown through the measurement of mBDNF levels in different brain regions of rats and in the brain of β‐site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)^?/? and WT mice and compared to western blot. Overall, this new ELISA will be useful for the measurement of mBDNF levels with high specificity.

     

Distribution and localization of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor-like immunoreactivity in the peripheral and central nervous system of the adult rat

The precursors for neurotrophins are proteolytically cleaved to form biologically active mature molecules which activate their receptors p75NTR and trks. A recent study showed that the precursor for nerve growth factor (NGF) can bind to p75NTR with a high affinity and induces apoptosis of neurons in vitro. Mutation in Val66Met of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) results in reduction in hippocampal function in learning and in the dysfunction of intracellular BDNF sorting and secretion. To examine the functions of pro-neurotrophins in vivo, it is essential to know where they are expressed in the nervous system. In the present study, we have raised and characterized rabbit polyclonal antibodies against a peptide coding for the precursor region of the BDNF gene. The antibody specifically recognizes the precursor for BDNF by western blot. With the affinity purified precursor antibody, we have mapped the distribution and localization of the precursor for BDNF. The results showed that, like mature BDNF, pro-BDNF is localized to nerve terminals in the superficial layers of dorsal horn, trigeminal nuclei, nuclei tractus solitarius, amygdaloid complex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and some peripheral tissues. These results suggest that pro-BDNF, like mature BDNF, is anterogradely transported to nerve terminals and may have important functions in synaptic transmission in the spinal cord and brain.