Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a naturally occurring neuropeptide found in both the central and peripheral nervous systems of vertebrates. Recent studies have revealed the presence of PACAP and its corresponding receptors, namely, the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type I receptor (PAC1R), vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 (VIPR1), and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VIPR2), in various structures implicated in migraine pathophysiology, including sensory trigeminal neurons. Human studies have demonstrated that when infused, PACAP can cause dilation of cranial vessels and result in delayed migraine-like attacks. In light of this, we present a novel ELISA assay that has been validated for quantifying PACAP in tissue extracts and human plasma. Using two well characterized antibodies specifically targeting PACAP, we successfully developed a sandwich ELISA assay, capable of detecting and accurately quantifying PACAP without any cross-reactivity to closely related peptides. The quantification range was between 5.2 pmol/L and 400 pmol/L. The recovery in plasma ranged from 98.2% to 100%. The increasing evidence pointing to the crucial role of PACAP in migraine pathophysiology necessitates the availability of tools capable of detecting changes in the circulatory levels of PACAP and its potential application as a reliable biomarker.
Keywords: ELISA; PACAP; assay validation; migraine.