Complement C3c and related protein biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease

We have used quantitative 2D gel electrophoresis to analyze serum proteins from 422 patients with neurodegenerative diseases and normal individuals in an unbiased approach to identify biomarkers. Differences in abnormal serum levels were found between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and related disorders for 34 protein biomarker spots, nine of which were related to the complement system. Of these nine, four spots originated from the Complement C3b-α-chain (C3c1, C3c2a, C3c2b, and C3dg). The C3c spots (C3c1, C3c2a, and C3c2b) had the same amino acid sequence and glycosylation, though only C3c1 was phosphorylated. In addition, Complement Factors H, Bb, and Pre-Serum amyloid protein displayed different serum concentrations in ALS, PD, and normal sera, whereas Complement C4b γ-chain and Complement Factor I did not. The differential expression of the complement proteins provides potentially useful biomarkers as well as evidence for the involvement of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of ALS and PD.