Structure-Based Probe Reveals the Presence of Large Transthyretin Aggregates in Plasma of ATTR Amyloidosis Patients

Abstract

Amyloidogenic transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a relentlessly progressive disease caused by the misfolding and systemic accumulation of amyloidogenic transthyretin into amyloid fibrils. These fibrils cause diverse clinical phenotypes, mainly cardiomyopathy and/or polyneuropathy. Little is known about the aggregation of transthyretin during disease development and whether this has implications for diagnosis and treatment. Using the cryogenic electron microscopy structures of mature ATTR fibrils, we developed a peptide probe for fibril detection. With this probe, we have identified previously unknown aggregated transthyretin species in plasma of patients with ATTR amyloidosis. These species are large, non-native, and distinct from monomeric and tetrameric transthyretin. Observations from our study open many questions about the biology of ATTR amyloidosis and reveal a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target.