Accurate quantitation of proteins involved in autoimmune disease using simple western (TECH2P.872)

Abstract

Abstract Why do researchers use Western blots? Since the technique was developed thirty years ago it’s become a trusted method for confirming the presence or absence of a protein but lacks the quantitative rigor for accurate measurement of the amount of protein present. The process requires many steps which introduces multiple variables. While portions of the technique have been automated to improve consistency, until now there has been no major leap in the technology that propels this method of protein analysis from qualitative to quantitative. Simple Western is the modern evolution of traditional immunoassay techniques. Wes, the latest addition to the Simple Western platform, is an easy to use, fully automated system that removes the variability seen with traditional Westerns for more reproducible results run to run and between users. Researchers can now identify their protein and achieve reliable quantitation of their target proteins. To demonstrate the precision and data reliability of Wes we look at proteins indicative of autoimmune disease in human samples from either normal individuals or individuals suffering from the disease. Wes not only reduces the hands on time and the time to results, but generates highly reproducible data that gives researchers a high degree of confidence in the differences detected between the two disease states. Accurate quantitation of these proteins can lead to the identification of predictive biomarkers for either diagnosis or response to treatment.