Quanterix, of Cambridge, MA, is touting its Single Molecule Array (SiMoA) technology in helping to measure inflammation biomarkers among patients with Crohn's disease. Crohn's is an inflammatory disease of the intestines that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea or weight loss, among many other possible symptoms.
Quanterix precisely measured low levels of cell-signalling proteins called cytokines using its digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that anti-TNF-α drugs reduced cytokine concentrations. TNF, or tumor necrosis factor, promotes inflammation, which in turn causes the symptoms of Crohn's disease. TNF alpha blockers are used as treatments. Inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α can initiate Crohn's disease symptoms.
"Although larger studies will be needed to fully understand the potential utility of cytokine measurements in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's, these results provide some indication of how sensitive and precise protein measurements enabled by SiMoA could be used clinically," Quanterix Executive Chairman Martin Madaus said in a statement.
- read more in the Quanterix release