ELISA for aging biomarkers induced by telomere dysfunction in human plasma

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Cathelicidin related antimicrobial protein (CRAMP) is identified in telomere dysfunctional bone marrow cells and elevated in aging.
• CRAMP levels increase in blood and tissues, potentially indicating human aging and disease.
• Telomere shortening is a hallmark of cellular aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantifying CRAMP in human plasma.
• To investigate CRAMP as a potential biomarker for human aging and age-related diseases.
• To establish detailed methods for quantifying CRAMP using ELISA in plasma samples.

Main Methods:

• Telomere lengths were measured in blood cells of 50 healthy individuals using real-time PCR.
• Plasma samples were analyzed using a direct ELISA method to quantify CRAMP levels.
• Optimal conditions for CRAMP ELISA in plasma were determined, including sample handling and storage.

Main Results:

• Telomere length significantly decreases with age, from 25 to 78 years.
• Plasma CRAMP expression levels show a significant increase during human aging.
• A clear inverse correlation exists between telomere length and plasma CRAMP levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed CRAMP ELISA is a sensitive tool for aging biomarker analysis.
• This assay can be utilized to investigate the relationship between aging, telomere shortening, and CRAMP.
• CRAMP quantification in plasma offers a novel approach to study aging processes.