Determination of cortisol in human plasma by thin-layer chromatography and fluorescence derivatization with isonicotinic acid hydrazide

The present work describes a specific and rapid determination of cortisol in human plasma. The method includes liquid-liquid extraction of plasma samples, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of ethanolic extracts on aluminium foil-backed silica gel 60 TLC plates, derivatization of cortisol with isonicotinic acid hydrazide, and densitometric measurement of the fluorescence intensity of cortisol hydrazone. The fluorescence was linearly related to cortisol amounts; the correlation coefficients of standard curve plots were r>0.99. The coefficient of variation ranged between 2.8-7.9% (20 ng, within-assay/between assay variation) and 1.6-6.8% (80 ng, within-assay/between assay variation). The recovery of cortisol from plasma spiked with 21-deoxycortisol was 85%+/-4%. Cortisol concentration in the plasma was 66+/-32 ng/mL (mean+/-standard deviation, n=24). The advantage of this method is its simplicity to separate cortisol from other steroids by TLC, its specificity (formation of cortisol hydrazone), and the rapid quantitation of cortisol by densitometry.     

Monoclonal-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatographic rapid assay for monensin.

Monensin, a member of the ionophoric polyether antibiotics, is used primarily as a coccidiostat. A protein conjugate of monensin was prepared and utilized to produce monoclonal antibodies in the BALB/c-P3X63Ag8U.1 fusion system. Only one hybridoma that produces monoclonal antibody against monensin was isolated from one in 329 wells. The monoclonal antibody was used to develop quantitative assays for monensin by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection limit was 1 ng ml-1 and the relative standard deviations were 2.1-6.3% intra-assay and 5.9-12.9% inter-assay. All ELISA results for assay of chicken plasma and cattle milk were confirmed using a bioassay to be used as the official method. The ELISA and bioassay results showed close correlations for plasma (r2 = 0.98, n = 25) and milk (r2 = 0.95, n = 25). Using the anti-monensin monoclonal antibodies produced, a rapid test kit based on the immunochromatographic method was developed. Detection limits of monensin for cattle milk, cattle plasma and chicken plasma were about 40, 40 and 160 ppb. respectively.     

Routine method for the simultaneous quantification of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, cortisol, and pregnenolone in human serum of neonates using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Steroid determination by immunoassays results in significant interferences and inaccurate results. This study describes the development and validation of a new gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous quantification of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17alphaOHP), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (Delta4-A), cortisol (F) and pregnenolone (Preg) in serum of neonates. Steroids were extracted and purified from 0.5 mL serum using diethyl ether and Extrelut mini NT1 column. The extracts were derivatized with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA)/trimethylsilyl iodide (TMSI)/dithioerythritol (DTE) and the resulting trimethylsilyl derivatives were quantified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry (GC-SIM-MS). The detection limit for all steroids was lower than 0.1 ng/mL. The limit of quantification was 0.1 ng/mL for all steroids except cortisol which was at 0.25 ng/mL. d3-Testosterone and methyltestosterone served as internal standards. Precision for all compounds at the concentrations of 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ng/mL (n = 10) in fortified steroid-free serum samples ranged from 0.8% to 16.6%. Accuracy was calculated at the concentrations of 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 ng/mL and ranged from -9.2% to 10.6% (n = 10). Linear calibration equations were obtained for all five steroids (0.125-31.25 ng/mL) and for cortisol (0.125-200 ng/mL). Relative recoveries at concentrations 1.0 and 12.5 ng/mL ranged from 70.5% to 97.5%. Absolute recoveries at the same concentrations ranged from 73.2% to 96.6%. Reference intervals were estimated for infants aged from 9 to 40 days. The proposed steroid profile is suitable for routine analysis and provides meaningful data for samples within normal range as well as those with elevated levels.     

Trastuzumab quantification in serum: a new,rapid, robust ELISA assay based on a mimetic peptide that specifically recognizes trastuzumab

Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), is a milestone in the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer patients. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for trastuzumab has been developed for routine use in the laboratory to support clinical and pharmacokinetic studies to optimize therapy. The method relies on an antigen peptide linked to a 96-well plate via the streptavidin/biotin system. The peptide sequence mimics the extracellular portion of the HER2 receptor that is recognized by trastuzumab. The calibration range of the assay is 10 to 360 ng/mL per well, corresponding to a trastuzumab serum concentration from 5 to 180 μg/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 10 μg/mL. Validation results demonstrate that trastuzumab can be accurately and precisely quantified in human serum using this assay. The procedure was also tested in sera obtained from breast cancer patients to evaluate trastuzumab serum levels, confirming the applicability of method that could be a valid assay to use in daily laboratory practice.     

An enzyme-linked immunometric assay for cortisol based on idiotype-anti-idiotype reactions

Cortisol levels in body fluids are useful for monitoring the function of the pituitary-adrenal axis. Here, we established an “enzyme-linked immunometric assay” (a noncompetitive-type ELISA) for cortisol based on idiotype-anti-idiotype reactions. Six different anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies that recognized the variable regions of a newly established anti-cortisol antibody were generated using hybridoma technology; these were two β-type and four α-type anti-idiotype antibodies, recognizing the paratope and framework regions, respectively. An immunometric assay was established using a combination of a selected α-type and a selected β-type antibody. The analyte (cortisol) was captured by an excess amount of anti-cortisol antibody immobilized on microplates, and the unoccupied paratope was saturated with the β-type antibody. Hapten-occupied anti-cortisol antibody, with less steric hindrance, was then selectively bound by the α-type antibody, labeled with biotin. The amount of biotin residue on the microplates was colorimetrically monitored using a peroxidase-labeled streptavidin. This assay had an approximately threefold higher sensitivity (detection limit: 90 pg = 248 fmol cortisol) than a competitive ELISA using the same anti-cortisol antibody, as well as a practical specificity for providing reasonable determination of normal urinary cortisol levels.     

Development of a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bisphenol A in serum

4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol, bisphenol A (BPA), was derivatized to BPA-carboxymethylether (BPA-CME), BPA-carboxypropylether (BPA-CPE) and BPA-carboxybutylether (BPA-CBE), and then linked to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The BPA-BSA conjugates were injected into female New Zealand White rabbits, which then generated six kinds of polyclonal antibodies. In addition, BPA and bisphenol B (BPB)-enzyme conjugates were derivatized to BPA-CME, BPA-CPE, BPA-CBE, BPA-carboxyphenylether (CPhE) and BPB-CPE, and then linked to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and the specificity of the antibodies was confirmed by comparison with pre-immune serum and by competitive assays using different dilutions of BPA standards. Although anti-BPA antibodies cross-reacted with BPB by more than 13.6% at all dilutions used, cross-reaction with phthalates and phenols occurred only less than 0.1%. The combination with the highest sensitivity was obtained using anti-BPA-CME-BSA antibody and BPA-CPhE-HRP conjugate. ELISA successfully detected BPA in human serum at concentrations as low as 0.3 ng mL(-1), and over a measurable range of 0.3-100 ng mL(-1). Recovery tests were carried out by adding BPA to three kinds of human serum, and ranged from 89.7 to 97.3%, from 85.4 to 94.9% and from 81.9 to 97.4%, respectively. The correlation between the results from ELISA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for BPA in spiked serum was r2 = 0.990, indicating that the proposed method is a potential tool for screening a large number of human serum samples.     

Development and validation of a fast monoclonal based disequilibrium enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of triphenylmethane dyes and their metabolites in fish

Malachite Green (MG), Crystal Violet (CV) and Brilliant Green (BG) are antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic agents that have been used for treatment and prevention of diseases in fish. These dyes are metabolized into reduced leuco forms (LMG, LCV, LBG) that can be present in fish muscles for a long period. Due to the carcinogenic properties they are banned for use in fish for human consumption in many countries including the European Union and the United States. HPLC and LC-MS techniques are generally used for the detection of these compounds and their metabolites in fish. This study presents the development of a fast enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method as an alternative for screening purposes. A first monoclonal cell line producing antibodies to MG was generated using a hybridoma technique. The antibody had good cross-reactivates with related chromatic forms of triphenylmethane dyes such as CV, BG, Methyl Green, Methyl Violet and Victoria Blue R. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) was used to develop a fast (20 min) disequilibrium ELISA screening method for the detection of triphenylmethanes in fish. By introducing an oxidation step with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) during sample extraction the assay was also used to detect the presence of the reduced metabolites of triphenylmethanes. The detection capability of the assay was 1 ng g(-1) for MG, LMG, CV, LCV and BG which was below the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) for the detection method of total MG (sum of MG and LMG) set by the Commission Decision 2004/25/EC (2 ng g(-1)). The mean recoveries for fish samples spiked at 0.5 MRPL and MRPL levels with MG and LMG were between 74.9 and 117.0% and inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation between 4.7 and 25.7%. The validated method allows the analysis of a batch of 20 samples in two to three hours. Additionally, this procedure is substantially faster than other ELISA methods developed for MG/LMG thus far. The stable and efficient monoclonal cell line obtained is an unlimited source of sensitive and specific antibody to MG and other triphenylmethanes.     

Production of a Monoclonal Antibody by Simultaneous Immunization of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A and B

In this paper, a method of simultaneous immunizing BALB/c mice with staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) A and B (SEA and SEB) to prepare a monoclonal antibody (3F2) for detecting both of SEA and SEB was developed. The results showed that antibody 3F2 had high titers against both SEA and SEB by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sensitivities of 3F2 to SEA and SEB detected by ELISA were 133.2 and 82.5 ng/mL, respectively, and the detection limits for the two enterotoxins were about 1 ng/mL. The antibody 3F2 had high specificities and affinities to both SEA and SEB, and had no cross-reaction with SEC₁, bovine serum albumin, and ovalbumin. SEs-free skimmed milk samples were spiked with different concentrations of SEA, SEB, or both of them, respectively. Average recoveries of SEA and SEB from the spiked samples were all nearly between 82% and 104%. The result suggested that one cell fusion with simultaneous immunization by multiple antigen to prepare monoclonal antibody against them was possible, simple, and economic. The monoclonal antibody could be used in simultaneous detecting multifarious SEs.     

Rapid polyelectrolyte-based immunofiltration technique for testosterone detection in serum samples

A new immunofiltration assay for testosterone is proposed. During the first step of the assay, testosterone molecules in serum samples compete in solution with the testosterone-peroxidase conjugate for interaction with anti-testosterone antibodies pre-bound to the conjugate between staphylococcal protein A and polymethacrylate polyanion. The reaction mixture is then filtered through a membrane charged with immobilized poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium) polycation. The filtration is accompanied by a rapid separation of the polyanion containing complexes due to high-affinity electrostatic interactions. Following removal of unbound compounds the immobilized peroxidase is detected using a substrate that produces an insoluble coloured product. The proposed assay has been shown to combine high speed (20 min) and sensitivity (0.1 ng ml(-1)), and to be applicable for out-of-laboratory conditions. Based on densitometric measurements, the RSD of the assay is calculated to be 3.2-5.1% (n = 4). The proposed assay is 4 times faster than the microplate enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) based on the same immunoreagents. Pre-incubation of the antibody and the polyanion-protein A conjugate at a certain ratio excludes the influence of immunoglobulins from the tested serum samples on the assay results. The polyanion-protein A conjugate can be used as a universal reagent, eliminating the necessity to modify specific antibodies for each immunoassay.     

表面等离子体子共振生物传感器用于乙肝表面抗原的测定

运用自行研制的表面等离子体子共振（SPR）生物传感器，采用自组装成膜技 术并以戊二醛作偶联剂，在传感片表面修饰HBsAg单克隆抗体，将其用于乙肝表面 抗原（HBsAg)的检测。实验结果表明SPR生物传感器对HBsAg的检出限为0.06ng/mL 。与传统的酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）相比，SPR生物传感器的检出灵敏度明显高 于ELISA法。用该SPR生物传感器对HBsAg质控血清与纯化的HBsAg溶液进行比较检测 ，结果表明该SPR生物传感器对HBsAg具有好的特异选择性。     

A radioimmunoassay for serum estradiol

A radioimmunoassay procedure to measure estradiol levels in human serum was developed using¹²⁵I labeled estradiol and antiestradiol antibody raised in-house using the estradiol-6-CMO-BSA as the immunogen. Controlled process serum was used to maintain the serum matrix and sample-standard identity. The assay was validated by analysing several (n=40) samples and comparing with established commercial assays. The assay had a sensitivity of 35 pg/mL and a range of 50 pg/mL to 5 ng/mL. The interassay C.V. were between 2 to 10% while the intraassay C.V. were between 2 and 8%. This assay is sensitive enough for monitoring ovulation and hypersecretions in ovarian tumours and was primarily developed to be used as an in-house assay in the local hospitals.     

Quantitative analysis of amyloid beta peptides in cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients by immunoaffinity purification and stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The 40 and 42 amino-acid residue forms of amyloid beta (Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42)) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been proposed as potential biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Quantitative analyses of Abeta peptides in CSF have relied almost exclusively on the use of immunoassay-based assays such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure. However, due to the ability of the Abeta peptides to readily self-aggregate or bind to other proteins and glassware, such analyses are extremely challenging. Analyses are further complicated by the potential of the peptides to undergo post-translational modifications and the possibilities for cross-reaction in the ELISA assays with endogenous components of the CSF. An approach based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has now been developed which overcomes these methodological issues. The key steps in implementing this new approach involved immunoaffinity purification coupled with the use of [15N]-labeled Abeta peptides as internal standards, a basic LC mobile phase, negative ion electrospray ionization, and a basic solvent for dissolving the peptides and washing the injection needle to prevent carryover of analytes during multiple injections on the LC/MS system. The validated method had limits of quantitation of 44 fmol/mL (200 pg/mL) for Abeta(1-42) and 92 fmol/mL (400 pg/mL) for Abeta(1-40). An excellent correlation was found between the LC/MS/MS assay and an ELISA assay for Abeta(1-42) in human CSF (r2 = 0.915), although less correlation was observed for Abeta(1-40) (r2 = 0.644). Mean CSF Abeta(1-42) concentrations for samples collected 2 weeks apart from a limited number of AD patients provided additional confidence in the reproducibility of the LC/MS/MS assay. Concentrations for duplicate samples from AD patients were slightly higher than most previously reported values (mean 1.06 +/- 0.25 ng/mL; n = 7). Abeta(1-40) concentrations in duplicate samples obtained from AD patients were also reproducible but were found to be slightly lower than most previously reported values (mean 6.36 +/- 3.07 ng/mL; n = 7). Consistent with literature reports, mean Abeta(1-42) concentrations were found to be lower in AD patients compared with the normal subjects (mean 1.49 +/- 0.59 ng/mL; n = 7), whereas there was no difference in Abeta(1-40) concentrations between AD patients and normal subjects (mean 5.88 +/- 3.03 ng/mL; n = 7). The accuracy and precision of the LC/MS assay mean that it will be a useful complement to existing ELISA assays for monitoring therapeutic interventions designed to modulate CSF Abeta(1-42) concentrations in individual AD patients. Moreover, the introduction of stable isotope labeled internal standards offers the potential to achieve a more rigorous account of the influence of methodological effects related to sample collection and processing.     

Liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for determination of cisapride in serum

A sensitive liquid chromatographic (LC) method using electrochemical detection was developed for the identification and quantitation of cisapride in serum. The serum samples were deproteinized by a simple acetonitrile precipitation technique followed by n-hexane extraction. Cisapride in the deproteinized serum was separated by an isocratic elution with an ODS Hypersil LC column (150 x 4.6 mm) using a mobile phase consisting of 0.05M Na2HPO4-acetonitrile (60 + 40), pH 8.4. Cisapride eluted from the column was detected by a Coulochem II electrochemical detector. The precision of this assay method was determined by intra- and inter-day analyses of cisapride-free fetal bovine serum samples that were spiked with 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL cisapride. For the intra-day assay, recoveries were 94.3 +/- 1.4, 90.1 +/- 2.9, and 103.2 +/- 9.2%, respectively. This electrochemical detection LC method could be very useful in monitoring plasma levels of cisapride.     

人血清中地尔硫高效液相色谱法测定及药代动力学参数

 建立了反相高效液相色谱法监测人口服地尔硫艹卓缓释片后血药浓度。血样用正己烷－氯仿－异丙醇混合溶剂（６０４０５）提取后，以Ｃ１８化学键合硅胶为固定相，甲醇－水－三乙胺为流动相，安定为内标，在２３９ｎｍ波长处定量检测。血药浓度在１５～３００μｇ／Ｌ范围内线性关系良好，最低检测浓度为３μｇ／Ｌ。批内（ｎ＝７）及批间（ｎ＝５）测定相对标准偏差分别小于６．８％和８．４％，回收率为９１％～１０４％。监测了８名健康人口服盐酸地尔硫艹卓缓释片后的不同时间的血药浓度变化，计算了有关的药代动力学参数。     

Protein array for assist diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

A nanogold probe immunoassay for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) combining the concepts of the one-step dual monoclonal antibody “sandwich” principle, the low density protein array, and silver enhancement on the gold particle is described. Two main substrates, namely the capture antibody (IgG1) coated supporting nitrocellulose membrane and the colloidal gold-labeled detection antibody (cAu–IgG2), were prepared before the detection. The detection procedure involved two steps, i.e. immunoreaction and silver amplification. The assay needs only small amounts of serum samples of patients. The detection results could be easily imaged with a simple flatbed scanner or even the naked eye. The whole detection procedure of the assay could be fulfilled within 40 min (much faster than the routine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that takes usually at least 3 h for a turnaround test). The detection limit of cTnI was found to be 1 ng/ml. The detecting results of cTnI in serum samples were similar to those detected by ELISA.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of pirlimycin in human serum and urine using 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method has been developed for determining pirlimycin in human serum and urine. The method involves chloroform extraction of pirlimycin free base followed by derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate to form a carbamate ester. The reaction is rapid, reproducible, and quantitative. 9-Fluorenylmethylchloroformate reacts with amines to form derivatives sensitive to both ultraviolet and fluorescence detection. Human serum and urine samples following 50-mg and 500-mg single oral doses of pirlimycin were analyzed. The samples were chromatographed on an RP-18 Spherisorb 5-micron, 250 X 4.6 mm I.D. reversed-phase HPLC column. The eluent for the serum assay was acetonitrile-water (58:42) containing 0.02% acetic acid, and for the urine assay was acetonitrile-methanol-tetrahydrofuran-water (48:2:1:49). Fluoranthene was used as an internal standard. The assay sensitivity by ultraviolet detection (lambda max = 264) was about 5 ng/ml and by fluorescence detection (lambda excitation = 270 nm, lambda emission = 300 nm) was 0.1 ng/ml. Statistical analysis indicates an average drug recovery of 101 +/- 4.2% from serum and 102.0 +/- 2.62% from urine.     

Determination of thiabendazole in fruit juices by a new monoclonal enzyme immunoassay

A competitive, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for thiabendazole has been developed and applied to the analysis of fruit juices spiked with this fungicide. The immunoassay is based on a new monoclonal antibody derived from a hapten functionalized at the nitrogen atom in the 1-position of the thiabendazole structure. To our knowledge, such a structure has not been previously used to obtain antibodies to thiabendazole. The I50 value and the detection limit of the ELISA for standards were 0.2 and 0.05 ng/mL, respectively. Fruit juices were analyzed by diluting samples in assay buffer, without extraction or cleanup. Samples were not even centrifuged or filtered to remove fruit pulp. Under these conditions, the immunoassay was able to accurately determine thiabendazole down to 1 ng/mL in orange and grapefruit juices, down to 5 ng/mL in banana juice, and down to 20 ng/mL in apple and pear juices. Sensitivity differences of the ELISA were caused by the minimum dilution required by each juice to minimize matrix effects: 1/10 for orange and grapefruit juices, 1/50 for banana juice, and 1/100 for apple and pear juices. In an attempt to further increase the sensitivity of the immunoassay for matrixes showing the strongest interferences, apple and pear juices spiked with thiabendazole at low levels (1-20 ng/mL) were extracted with ethyl acetate before analysis. This simple procedure entailed a significant reduction of matrix effects, which in fact allowed us to determine accurately as low as 5 ng/mL thiabendazole in apple and pear juices. Irrespective of whether samples were analyzed by the direct dilution method or after extraction, the simplicity, sensitivity, and sample throughput of this monoclonal immunoassay makes it a very convenient method for the routine monitoring of thiabendazole residues in fruit juices.     

Determination of 19-nortestosterone residues in aquaculture tissues by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and comparison with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

19-Nortestosterone (17β-NT) was oximated by carboxymethoxylamine and then coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a mixed-anhydride reaction in order to produce an antibody. The conjugate rate of 17β-NT and BSA was estimated to be 24 by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Polyclonal antibody of 17β-NT was acquired from the animal immunized with the conjugate. Through an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which demonstrated that the synthesis of immunogen was successful, the titre of antiserum was found to be 6.4?×?10⁵. Based on the purified antibody, a competitive indirect ELISA was developed. ELISA revealed that the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.07?ng?g^?1, the recovery (in edible tissues) was 71–89%, and the working range was 0.05–31.25?ng?g^?1. The preliminary evaluation of assay performance through specificity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy revealed that this ELISA method could be used in the practical detection of 17β-NT in tissue samples. Moreover, this method was compared with high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, for which the transition for quantification of 17β-NT was 275.4/109.1.     

Discovery of the serum biomarker proteins in severe preeclampsia by proteomic analysis

Preeclapsia (PE) is a severe disorder that occurs during pregnancy, leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. PE affects about 3-8% of all pregnancies. In this study, we conducted liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze serum samples depleted of the six most abundant proteins from normal and PE-affected pregnancies to profile serum proteins. A total of 237 proteins were confidently identified with <1% false discovery rate from the two groups of duplicate analysis. The expression levels of those identified proteins were compared semiquantitatively by spectral counting. To further validate the candidate proteins with a quantitative mass spectrometric method, selective reaction monitoring (SRM) and enzyme linked immune assay (ELISA) of serum samples collected from pregnant women with severe PE (n = 8) or normal pregnant women (n = 5) was conducted. α2- HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and α-1-microglobulin/bikunin (AMBP) and Insulin like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit (IGFBP-ALS) were confirmed to be differentially expressed in PE using SRM (P<0.05). Among these proteins, AHSG was verified by ELISA and showed a statistically significant increase in PE samples when compared to controls.     

Quantitation ofAcidothermus cellulolyticus E1 endoglucanase andThermomonospora fusca E3 exoglucanase using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Two distinct quantitative indirect ELISAs were developed to determine the concentration of recombinant cellulase enzymes in culture filtrates. A monoclonal antibody (E1P7) was used as the primary antibody in developing an ELISA specific forAcidothermus cellulolyticus E1 endoglucanase. Likewise, a polyclonal rabbit serum (Ab684) was used to develop an ELISA specific forThermomonospora fusca E₃ exoglucanase. Dose-response curves indicated a dynamic range for both assays between 0.01 and 0.08 μg/mL (1–8 ng/assay) when purified enzymes were used as standards. These assays have been used to estimate concentrations of secreted recombinant E1 and/or E₃ in culture supernatants ofStreptomyces lividans strain TK24 in which the corresponding genes have been cloned and expressed.