PlaqueTec study validates Olink technology for measuring biologically active endothelin-1
A new peer-reviewed study, published in collaboration with the Department of Cardiology, Royal Papworth Hospital and the Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, has demonstrated a significant correlation between measurements of biologically active endothelin-1 (ET-1) generated using Olink’s proximity extension assay technology and an established ELISA-based method, supporting the use of Olink technology for ET-1 measurement in coronary artery plasma samples.
The paper, ‘Comparison of endothelin-1 levels in plasma from human coronary arteries measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Olink high-throughput proteomics platform’, reports a comparison between two methods to measure biologically active ET-1 in coronary blood samples provided by PlaqueTec: the Olink Proteomics platform and an established clinical assay that uses an ELISA-based method. The results demonstrated significant correlation in the specific detection of biologically active ET-1 between the two assays. Validation of the Olink Explore 3072 Proximity Extension assay platform highlights the reliability of using proximity extension assay technology to enable high-throughput proteomic profiling for multiplex detection of thousands of plasma proteins from low sample volumes. These capabilities have practical benefits in clinical trials where samples are tested for multiple biomarkers or sample availability is low, including the coronary artery samples used in PlaqueTec’s BIOPATTERN trial investigating interpatient variation in intracoronary signals to provide deeper insight into the pathways involved in atherosclerosis and identify novel therapeutic targets.
ET-1 is a potent peptide synthesised by endothelial cells that exerts vasoconstrictive effects and has an important role in cardiovascular pathology, where elevated ET-1 levels contribute to increased vasoconstriction. The study also supports the findings from previously published results obtained using Olink assays, including data published in the UK Biobank, where ET-1 levels were high in participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension and correlated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance and disease severity, supporting the inclusion of ET-1 in multiplex panels and the broader use of this technology to investigate therapeutic targets in coronary artery disease.
Dr Diane Proudfoot, Chief Scientific Officer, PlaqueTec and co-author, commented: “Knowing that the Olink assay genuinely reflects biologically active ET-1 is really important for us. It gives us confidence that the protein signals we're seeing in coronary blood samples from our BIOPATTERN trial are meaningful, and that we can trust the data as we work to understand the biology of atherosclerotic plaques and identify new ways to help patients with cardiovascular disease.”
Professor Anthony Davenport, University of Cambridge, and co-author, added: “Detrimental increases in plasma ET-1 are a key biomarker identifying diseases for successfully translating ET receptor antagonists into the clinic. In clinical trials, increases in circulating ET-1 can also be exploited as a pharmacodynamic biomarker, providing evidence for receptor blockade and target engagement by ET antagonists, optimal dose selection and patient stratification. The combination of unprecedented sensitivity with automation, establish Olink proteomics as a powerful new tool to advance the ET field.”
PlaqueTec contributed to the funding of this research together with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre Pump Priming Award, the Royal Papworth Innovation fund and the Jon Moulton Charity Trust.
