Use of a monoclonal antibody to estrone-3-glucuronide in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

A direct urinary ELISA for estrone-3-glucuronide has been produced following cloning and characterisation of a monoclonal antibody to the above estrogen metabolite. The ELISA follows our established pattern of absorbing a thyroglobulin conjugate, to which estrone-3-glucuronide has been coupled, to the wells of a microtitre plate using guanidine hydrochloride. A competition reaction between either standards/samples and the adsorbed hormone compete for antibody combining sites. The assay is completed by addition of an anti-mouse Ig-peroxidase complex and read at 492 nm following additions of O-phenylenediamine substrate in under 4 h. The correlation between urinary "total estradiol" and "total estrone and estradiol" is very good and, in conjunction with our ELISA for pregnanediol glucuronide, has allowed for the improved clinical management of infertile and subfertile women.     

Production of a monoclonal antibody to cortisol: application to a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of plasma.

Cortisol mouse monoclonal antibodies were produced and characterized. Of the four clones studied, supernatant from one clone (A2), compared with other cortisol monoclonal antibodies, showed minimal cross-reactivity to other C21 steroids and was suitable for the direct determination of cortisol in plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a standard 96-well microtiter plate. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay uses the immobilized antigen approach, in which cortisol in plasma samples or standards competes with immobilized steroid for antibody-binding sites. After washing, the cortisol antibody bound to the wells of the microtiter plate is detected with antimouse immunoglobulin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Following further washing, o-phenylenediamine substrate is added. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is robust and semiautomated. The mean +/- SD recovery from plasma was 97% +/- 6%. Precision studies on three different plasma pools showed mean coefficients of variation of 7.6% and 8.6% for within- and between-assay variation, respectively. The satisfactory performance criteria allow its use in the routine laboratory.     

The isolation of estriol-16α-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide from late pregnancy urine

A simple procedure is described, whereby estriol-16α-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide have been isolated from late pregnancy urine. The conjugates isolated were used as haptens for raising antisera for radioimmunoassay.     

Measurement of estrone-3-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide in early morning urine samples to monitor ovarian function

The determination of the concentration of estrone-3-glucuronide and pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide has been performed by a chemiluminescent immunoassay in early morning urine samples of 14 normal menstruating women and 11 women affected by luteal phase defect. The early morning urine samples were daily collected for an entire menstrual cycle. We have employed a timed and measured volume collection procedure as correction factor. The integrated values of the hormonal data in definite time intervals were used to create a nomogram. By means of this method, it was possible to completely separate normal from luteal insufficiency subjects and to distinguish two different types of luteal phase defects. Moreover, the same approach was applied to the study of the role and the frequency of luteal phase defect in 15 patients affected by habitual abortion and in 17 premenopausal women who had undergone quadrantectomy for T1a No Mo breast cancer. A luteal phase defect was detected in nine of the aborting patients (60%) and in eight women affected by breast cancer (47%). Finally estrone-3-glucuronide was measured in early morning urine samples of 96 prepubertal and pubertal girls in different pubertal stages and in one patient affected by precocious puberty, before and during an agonist GnRH treatment. The urinary test of ovarian function seems to be suitable for diagnostic purposes and for clinical studies.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human interferon-gamma and their application to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

The authors obtained two mouse monoclonal antibodies, G-208 and G-166, to recombinant human interferon-gamma (rH-IFN-gamma). Immunologically, they were classified as IgG1-K subclass. G-208 neutralized the antiviral activity of natural and recombinant human IFN-gamma, but did not bind to heat-denatured rH-IFN-gamma. G-166 was able to bind to rH-IFN-gamma as well as to heat-denatured rH-IFN-gamma, but it did not bind to natural human IFN-gamma (nH-IFN-gamma). A sandwich enzyme immunoassay specific to H-IFN-gamma molecule was developed using polyclonal rabbit anti-nH-IFN-gamma antibody and G-208. This assay monitors only biologically active H-IFN-gamma molecule. Thus, this method may be used for the direct determination of H-IFN-gamma instead of determination of antiviral activity of H-IFN-gamma.     

Heterogeneity of antibodies to metallothionein isomers and development of a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of metallothionein (MT) in tissues and body fluids has been developed. The ELISA employs the IgG fraction of a rabbit antiserum to rat liver Cd-MT-2 polymer, a biotinylated secondary antibody, and peroxidase conjugated avidin. With a 1:4000 dilution of the immunoglobulins, typical standard curves (logit-log regression) provide a linear range of 0.1–100 ng for MT-2 and 10–1000 ng for MT-1. Fifty percent inhibition is accomplished with 15 ng and 250 ng for MT-2 and MT-1, respectively. Rat liver MT-1 and MT-2 containing different metals (Ag, Cu, and Zn) inhibited the antibodies as effectively as CdMT. However, the antibodies exhibited greater affinity for both Apo-MT isoforms. Previously reported discrepancies between results obtained by metal binding assays (e.g., Ag-hem binding) and radioimmunoassay for MT levels in tissues have been largely resolved. By addition of 1% Tween 20 to samples, the ELISA routinely estimated the total MT in samples of rat, mouse, and human liver and kidney at 88% of the value obtained by the silver-hem binding assay. Specific antibodies to MT-2 were purified from our anti-serum by affinity purification using CH-Sepharose 4B coupled with rat liver MT-1. Estimation of MT in samples using purified MT-2 antibodies provided slightly lower values (72%) for MT in tissues as compared to the Ag-hem method. The predominant form of MT in tissues of control animals was found to be MT-2. Therefore, the MT-2 specific antibodies may be useful for the study of the functions of MT isoforms. Levels of total MT in tissues and biological fluids of rats injected with CdCl₂ (0.3 mg Cd/kg) and Cd-MT (0.3 mg Cd/kg) were estimated by ELISA. The results suggest urinary MT levels may be related to kidney damage.     

A monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of ursodeoxycholic acid 3-sulfates in human urine

Sulfation of the 3-hydroxy group is assumed to be a major metabolic route of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) which is used for treating various hepatobiliary diseases. We have developed a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determining the total amount of nonamidated, glycine- and taurine-amidated ursodeoxycholic acid 3-sulfates (UDCA 3-Suls) using a newly established monoclonal antibody. In this study, 12 kinds of antibody-secreting hybridoma clones were generated by a fusion experiment between P3/NS1/1-Ag4-1 myeloma cells and the spleen cells from a BALB/c or an A/J mouse which had been immunized with a conjugate of nonamidated UDCA 3-Sul and bovine serum albumin. One of the monoclonal antibodies, Ba-10 (γ2a, κ), had suitable binding properties for clinical application, which was group-specific to the UDCA 3-Suls, and showed negligible cross-reactivities with various related bile acids including potentially interfering compounds, namely, the unconjugated UDCA, UDCA 7-N-acetylglucosaminide, the 3-sulfates of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid. The antibody Ba-10 allowed us to develop a sensitive competitive ELISA system whose measurable range was approximately 2–200 pg per assay. A serial dilution study indicated that the ELISA enables the direct measurement of the UDCA 3-Suls in human urine before and after the administration of exogenous UDCA. The daily urinary excretion rate of UDCA 3-Suls from healthy male volunteers (n = 5) was determined to be a mean of 131 ± 61.2 (SD) μg as the nonamidated UDCA 3-Sul equivalent.     

Characterization by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of monoclonal antibodies to pisum and Avena phytochrome

Nine monoclonal antibodies to pea (Pisum sativum L.) and 16 to oat (Avena sativa L.) phytochrome are characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against phytochrome from six different sources: pea, zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), oat, rye (Secale cereale L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). All antibodies were raised against phytochrome with a monomer size near 120,000 daltons. Nevertheless, none of them discriminated qualitatively between 118/114-kilodalton oat phytochrome and a photoreversible, 60-kilodalton proteolytic degradation product derived from it. In addition, none of the 23 antibodies tested discriminated substantially between phytochrome—red-absorbing form and phytochrome—far red-absorbing form. Two antibodies to pea and six to oat phytochrome also bound strongly to phytochrome from the other species, even though these two plants are evolutionarily widely divergent. Of these eight antibodies, two bound significantly to all of the six phytochrome preparations tested, indicating that these two may recognize highly conserved regions of the chromoprotein. Since the molecular function of phytochrome is unknown, these two antibodies may serve as unique probes for regions of this pigment that are important to its mode of action.     

Monoclonal antibody based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin in foodstuff

Monoclonal antibodies to aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin (KM) were raised as a result of mice complex immunization with glutaraldehyde conjugates BSA with KM, tobramycin (TM) and gentamicin. Using antibodies an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed. This method allows to determine antibiotic up to 1.2 ng/ml in water solutions, milk and eggs and up to 2.5 ng/ml in honey. The recovery rate from these products spiked with KM was 83, 84 and 96% respectively. The assay of KM based on homologous and heterologous solid-phase conjugates were estimated. The cross-reactivity with TM could vary from 7 to 54%. The same indexes for of amikacin were more constant and reached 7-8%. The other aminoglycosides showed no inhibitory activity.     

Monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin in foodstuffs

Monoclonal antibodies to the aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin (KM) were obtained as a result of the complex immunization of mice with glutaraldehyde conjugates of BSA with KM, tobramycin (TM), and gentamicin. With the use of these antibodies, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed. This method allows for the determination of up to 1.2 ng/ml of an antibiotic in water solutions, milk, and eggs, and up to 2.5 ng/ml in honey. The recovery rate in these products spiked with KM was 83, 84, and 96%, respectively. The assays of KM based on homologous and heterologous solid-phase conjugates were estimated. Under these conditions the cross-reactivity with TM could vary from 7 to 54%. The same indexes for amikacin were more constant and reached 7–8%. The other aminoglycosides showed no inhibitory activity.     

Measurement of rabies-specific antibodies in carnivores by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

We describe an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that utilizes anticanine immunoglobulin for the measurement of rabies-specific antibody in the sera of the major domestic and wildlife reservoirs of rabies in North America. Sufficient cross-reactivity was found to exist between anticanine IgG and serum antibody from all carnivores tested, including dogs, cats, foxes (Vulpes vulpes), skunks (Mephitis sp.) and raccoons (Procyon lotor). With sera of most species, good correlation was observed between results obtained with the ELISA and with the fluorescence inhibition microtest (FIMT). Some wildlife specimens, particularly of skunk and raccoon origin, were cytotoxic in the FIMT, resulting in possible false-positive reactions. In view of this, and since the ELISA is rapid, economical and reproducible (coefficient of variation less than 13%), we consider it to be a favorable alternative to the fluorescence inhibition test for assay of wildlife sera.     

Dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot ELISA) for antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi

A dot-ELISA procedure was developed to detect antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Sera from 84 rabbits, 22 dogs, 18 squirrel monkeys and 200 mice were tested by dot-ELISA and most also were tested by immunofluorescence. Comparison of the two tests showed that there was excellent agreement of the results (Kappa values greater than or equal to 0.74) in all four species. Dot-ELISA is a simple, quantitative, rapid alternative to immunofluorescence when large numbers of serum samples must be evaluated.     

Development of a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for parathion residue in food samples

A heterologous direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for parathion residue determination is described based on a monoclonal antibody and a new competitor. The effects of several physicochemical factors, such as methanol concentration, ionic strength, pH value, and sample matrix, on the performance of the ELISA were optimized for the sake of obtaining a satisfactory assay sensitivity. Results showed that when the assay medium was in the optimized condition (phosphate buffer solution [PBS] containing 10% [v/v] methanol and 0.2 mol/L NaCl at a pH value of 5.0), the sensitivity (estimated as the IC₅₀ value) and the limit of detection (LOD, estimated as the IC₁₀ value) were 1.19 and 0.08 ng/ml, respectively. The precision investigation indicated that the intraassay precision values all were below 10% and that the interassay precision values ranged from 4.89 to 19.12%. In addition, the developed ELISA showed a good linear correlation (r² = 0.9962) to gas chromatography within the analyte’s concentration range of 0.1 to 16 ng/ml. When applied to the fortified samples (parathion adding level: 5-15 μg/kg), the developed ELISA presented mean recoveries of 127.46, 122.52, 91.92, 124.01, 129.72, 99.37, and 87.17% for tomato, cucumber, banana, apple, orange, pear, and sugarcane, respectively. Results indicated that the established ELISA is a potential tool for parathion residue determination.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of canine antibodies to canine adenoviruses.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect canine immunoglobulin G antibodies specific for infectious canine hepatitis virus and the serologically related canine adenovirus Type 2. The sequential development of homologous and heterologous antibodies was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serum neutralization tests in two groups of dogs which were experimentally infected with either infectious canine hepatitis virus or canine adenovirus Type 2. Both tests were comparable in their abilities to detect the development of homologous and heterologous antibodies. Homologous antibodies were detected earlier and to a higher titer in both tests. There was a 98% agreement between the serum neutralization test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay when sera from 224 random-source dogs were examined for infectious canine hepatitis virus antibodies. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was found to be a highly efficient and rapid test to determine the immune status of dogs to infectious canine hepatitis virus and canine adenovirus Type 2.     

Development of a direct microplate enzyme immunoassay for the determination of pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide in urine

A sensitive direct enzyme immunoassay for urine pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide was developed. The assay system involves the use of an antiserum against pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide and an enzyme-labelled antigen chemically prepared by linking beta-D-galactosidase to 20 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnane 3(O-carboxymethyl)oxime. Free from antibody-bound antigen was separated by a solid-phase double antibody method, using a microplate coupled with goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin. This solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for urine pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide was validated in terms of specificity, accuracy and sensitivity. When urine samples were assayed for pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide, the results obtained by the solid phase enzyme immunoassay and conventional radioimmunoassay methods agreed well (n = 30, r = 0.922). This assay system has an advantage over radioimmunoassay, because it does not require the use of radioisotopes. The procedure of this method is very simple, since it does not require purification steps of the biological samples.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantitate the elastin crosslink desmosine in tissue and urine samples

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method has been developed for the determination of desmosine. The method is based on an inhibition immunoassay (under nonequilibrium conditions) and uses rabbit antisera directed against a desmosine-bovine serum albumin conjugate and microtiter plates coated with desmosine-gelatin conjugate. The assay quantitates desmosine in the range 2.5-50 pmol in tissue and urine samples. Important applications of this rapid and sensitive assay are in studying elastin metabolism and in screening for monoclonal antibodies against desmosine. Methods are described for obtaining a constant level of substitution of desmosine per molecule of bovine serum albumin and for preparing a desmosine-gelatin coating antigen. Five different antibody preparations directed against desmosine exhibit 15-20% cross-reactivity toward pyridinoline (3-hydroxypyridinium), a nonreducible collagen crosslinking compound also present in urine and many tissue samples.     

Rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of IgG antibodies to Candida albicans

A rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) where the performance time was shortened to 4h was compared with counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and a standard ELISA procedure for the detection of IgG antibodies to Candida albicans in 61 patients with suspected invasive candidosis. Using a C. albicans cytoplasmic antigen the rapid ELISA compared well with CIE and the standard ELISA. Seventeen sera that reacted with two concentrations of C. albicans antigen in CIE were also positive in both forms of ELISA. Four sera that were CIE-negative were positive in the standard ELISA and three were also positive in the rapid ELISA. The rapid ELISA provides a sensitive and reproducible test for routine serological investigation of different forms of candidosis.