Targeted Proteomic Profiling of Nasal Fluid from the Brain-Nose Interface

The brain-nose interface is an anatomical region where olfactory neurons pass through the cribriform plate into the nasal mucosa, providing minimally invasive access to the central nervous system. The research team collected nasal fluid from this area in cognitively impaired patients and compared it with cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma. Using specialized proteomic panels (Olink Target 96 Neurology and NULISAseq CNS Disease 120), they analyzed proteins in both samples. Nasal fluid demonstrated technically repeatable results with precision exceeding 60 percent of proteins. Protein detection in nasal fluid was comparable to plasma and exceeded cerebrospinal fluid. Clinically relevant proteins were identified in nasal fluid, including tau proteins, phosphorylated tau, alpha-synuclein, and glial markers. The study represents the first comprehensive characterization of the nasal proteome from the brain-nose interface region using targeted multiplex platforms.