An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to study human relaxin in human pregnancy and in pregnant rhesus monkeys

1989 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lucas ◽  
L. N. Bald ◽  
M. C. Martin ◽  
R. B. Jaffe ◽  
D. W. Drolet ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A sensitive and specific double-antibody enzyme-linked immunoassay, using a synthetic analogue of human relaxin for standard and immunogen, was developed for the measurement of human relaxin (hRLX) in serum and plasma. No cross-reactivity was observed for human insulin, human insulin-like growth factor-I, hGH, human chorionic gonadotropin, hFSH, hLH or human prolactin. The assay was used to monitor RLX concentrations in samples from men, non-pregnant and pregnant women, and in pregnant rhesus monkeys infused with hRLX. RLX was not detected in serum from men nor from non-pregnant women, while a concentration of 600 ng/l was measured in pooled sera from two pregnant women (pregnancies achieved by in-vitro fertilization). Immunoreactive RLX (1·1 μg/g) was found in human corpora lutea taken from ectopic pregnancies at 7 weeks. In an experiment with a pregnant rhesus monkey infused with human RLX analogue, less than 1·5% of the maternal concentration was measured in the fetal circulation. Even though preliminary, these data suggest a low level of transfer of human analogue relaxin across the placenta in a rhesus monkey. Further studies of the physiology of RLX in human pregnancy will be facilitated by the availability of this immunoassay. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 449–457

Reproduction ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Joy McIntosh ◽  
Steve Lawrence ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Kenneth P McNatty

The transforming growth factor β (TGFB) superfamily proteins bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), are essential for mammalian fertility. Recent in vitro evidence suggests that the proregions of mouse BMP15 and GDF9 interact with their mature proteins after secretion. In this study, we have actively immunized mice against these proregions to test the potential in vivo roles on fertility. Mice were immunized with either N- or C-terminus proregion peptides of BMP15 or GDF9, or a full-length GDF9 proregion protein, each conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). For each immunization group, ovaries were collected from ten mice for histology after immunization, while a further 20 mice were allowed to breed and litter sizes were counted. To link the ovulation and fertility data of these two experimental end points, mice were joined during the time period identified by histology as being the ovulatory period resulting in to the corpora lutea (CL) counted. Antibody titers in sera increased throughout the study period, with no cross-reactivity observed between BMP15 and GDF9 sera and antigens. Compared with KLH controls, mice immunized with the N-terminus BMP15 proregion peptide had ovaries with fewer CL (P<0.05) and produced smaller litters (P<0.05). In contrast, mice immunized with the full-length GDF9 proregion not only had more CL (P<0.01) but also had significantly smaller litter sizes (P<0.01). None of the treatments affected the number of antral follicles per ovary. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the proregions of BMP15 and GDF9, after secretion by the oocyte, have physiologically important roles in regulating ovulation rate and litter size in mice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry M. Work ◽  
Julie Dagenais ◽  
Anna Willimann ◽  
George Balazs ◽  
Kate Mansfield ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor disease associated with a herpesvirus (chelonid herpesvirus 5 [ChHV5]) that affects mainly green turtles globally. Understanding the epidemiology of FP has been hampered by a lack of robust serological assays to monitor exposure to ChHV5. This is due in part to an inability to efficiently culture the virus in vitro for neutralization assays. Here, we expressed two glycoproteins (FUS4 and FUS8) from ChHV5 using baculovirus. These proteins were immobilized on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates in their native form and assayed for reactivity to two types of antibodies, full-length 7S IgY and 5.7S IgY, which has a truncated Fc region. Turtles from Florida were uniformly seropositive to ChHV5 regardless of tumor status. In contrast, in turtles from Hawaii, we detected strong antibody reactivity mainly in tumored animals, with a lower antibody response being seen in nontumored animals, including those from areas where FP is enzootic. Turtles from Hawaii actively shedding ChHV5 were more seropositive than nonshedders. In trying to account for differences in the serological responses to ChHV5 between green turtles from Hawaii and green turtles from Florida, we rejected the cross-reactivity of antibodies to other herpesviruses, differences in viral epitopes, or differences in procedure as likely explanations. Rather, behavioral or other differences between green turtles from Hawaii and green turtles from Florida might have led to the emergence of biologically different viral strains. While the strains from turtles in Florida apparently spread independently of tumors, the transmission of the Hawaiian subtype relies heavily on tumor formation. IMPORTANCE Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor disease associated with chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) that is an important cause of mortality in threatened green turtles globally. FP is expanding in Florida and the Caribbean but declining in Hawaii. We show that Hawaiian turtles mount antibodies to ChHV5 mainly in response to tumors, which are the only sites of viral replication, whereas tumored and nontumored Floridian turtles are uniformly seropositive. Tumor viruses that depend on tumors for replication and spread are rare, with the only example being the retrovirus causing walleye dermal sarcoma in fish. The Hawaiian strain of ChHV5 may be the first DNA virus with such an unusual life history. Our findings, along with the fundamental differences in the life histories between Floridian turtles and Hawaiian turtles, may partly explain the differential dynamics of FP between the two regions.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. E. Jensen ◽  
B. Aalbaek ◽  
P. Lind ◽  
H. V. Krogh ◽  
P. L. Frandsen

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against water-soluble somatic antigens (WSSA) and the wall fraction (WF) from Aspergillus fumigatus were produced by fusion of splenocytes from immunized BALB/c mice with mouse myeloma X63-Ag 8.653 cells. The supernatants of in vitro cultured hybridomas were initially screened for reactivity with the WSSA and the WF from A. fumigatus and WSSA of other fungi in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Supernatants reacting only with A. fumigatus antigens were subsequently screened for homologous and heterologous reactivity with immunohistochemical techniques using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from experimentally infected mice. Because of a high immunohistochemical reactivity with homologous fungi, 4 MAbs raised against A. fumigatus WSSA and WF were selected for a further evaluation of cross-reactivity (diagnostic specificity) in immunohistochemical and immunoblotting assays. In immunohistochemical assays, all MAbs raised against WSSA cross-reacted heavily with a number of other fungal species. All 4 MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1-4) raised against the WF reacted strongly with hyphae of Aspergillus spp.; hyphae of Scedosporium apiospermum were also strongly labeled by MAb-WF-AF-3 and-4. The 2 specifically reacting MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1 and-2) were of the IgM biotype and were precipitating, and in immunoblotting experiments both bound to a 106-kD antigen of the WF, whereas they did not bind to WSSA of A. fumigatus. One of the 2 aspergillosis-specific MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1) was used to screen 145 mycotic lesions of cattle. The diagnoses on bovine lesions obtained by MAb-WF-AF-1 were compared with results based on reactivity with heterologously absorbed polyclonal antibodies and, for some lesions, to culture results. In the vast majority of lesions ( n = 133), the MAb-WF-AF-1 and the polyclonal anti-Aspergillus antibodies reacted in a similar pattern, i.e., positively in 41 aspergillosis lesions and negatively in 92 zygomycotic lesions. Hyphae in 3 of 12 lesions that were not stained by the polyclonal antibodies reacted with the specific MAb-WF-AF-1; i.e., aspergillosis was diagnosed. The characteristics of the 2 MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1 and-2) raised against the WF of A. fumigatus in ELISA and immunoblotting and immunohistochemical assays justify their application for the in situ diagnosis of systemic aspergillosis of cattle.


1937 ◽  
Vol 123 (833) ◽  
pp. 441-456 ◽  

Uterine bleeding occurs in spayed rhesus monkeys a few days after the cessation of a series of oestrin injections (Allen 1927). The fact that bleeding also follows either the removal of ovaries which do not contain functional corpora lutea or injury to large ovarian follicles (Allen 1927; van Wagenen and Aberle 1931) is now related to the occurrence of post-oestrin bleeding, and these various observations, together with parallel and in some cases long-established clinical findings, have been made the basis of what is known as the oestrin-withdrawal theory of menstruation. The experimental study of the menstrual cycle necessarily requires detailed knowledge of the varying reactions of the primate uterus to oestrin. The available observations on this question are very few, and for that reason the following study was undertaken.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 772-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
József Bódis ◽  
Endre Sulyok ◽  
Tamás Kőszegi ◽  
Krisztina Gödöny ◽  
Viktória Prémusz ◽  
...  

Objective This observational, clinical study was designed to assess the role of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), and resveratrol in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods Paired serum and follicular fluid (FF) samples were obtained from 30 consecutive patients (age: 36.43 ± 4.17 years, body mass index: 22.90 ± 2.05 kg/m2, duration of infertility: 5.10 ± 2.80 years) who received IVF treatment. SIRT1, SIRT6, and resveratrol levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Ovarian hyperstimulation resulted in significantly higher serum SIRT1 levels in pregnant women (8 patients) compared with non-pregnant women (22 patients). SIRT6 levels remained unchanged after ovarian hyperstimulation, but were significantly lower in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women before and after hyperstimulation. Both SIRTs were detected in FF, but they appeared to be independent of their serum levels. After correction for confounders, FF SIRT6 levels were positively related to mature oocytes (F = 6.609), whereas serum SIRT1 and SIRT6 levels were related to clinical pregnancy (F = 10.008, F = 5.268, respectively). Conclusions Our study shows that SIRT1 and SIRT6, but not resveratrol, are involved in human reproduction and they may have a role in oocyte maturation and clinical pregnancy in IVF.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2622
Author(s):  
Aliah Zannierah Mohsin ◽  
Rashidah Sukor ◽  
Jinap Selamat ◽  
Anis Shobirin Meor Hussin ◽  
Intan Hakimah Ismail ◽  
...  

The chemical, technological and allergy properties of goat’s milk are significantly affected by the level of αs1-casein. Detection and quantification of αs1-casein requires high-specificity methods to overcome high-sequence similarity between this protein and others in the casein family. Unavailability of antibodies with high affinity and specificity towards goat αs1-casein hinders the development of immuno-based analytical methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biosensors. Here, we report the generation of polyclonal antibodies (or immunoglobulins, IgGs) raised towards goat αs1-casein N- (Nter) and C-terminal (Cter) peptide sequences. The Nter and Cter peptides of goat αs1-casein were immunized in rabbits for the generation of antisera, which were purified using protein G affinity chromatography. The binding affinity of the antisera and purified IgGs were tested and compared using indirect ELISA, where peptide-BSA conjugates and goat αs1-casein were used as the coating antigens. The Nter antiserum displayed higher titer than Cter antiserum, at 1/64,000 and 1/32,000 dilutions, respectively. The purification step further yielded 0.5 mg/mL of purified IgGs from 3 mL of antisera. The purified Nter IgG showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher binding affinity towards peptide-BSA and goat αs1-casein, with lower Kd value at 5.063 × 10−3 μM compared to 9.046 × 10−3 μM for the Cter IgG. A cross-reactivity test showed that there was no binding in neither Nter nor Cter IgGs towards protein extracts from the milk of cow, buffalo, horse and camel. High-quality antibodies generated will allow further development of immuno-based analytical methods and future in vitro studies to be conducted on goat αs1-casein.


1978 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. MITCHELL ◽  
B. R. HICKS ◽  
G. D. THORBURN ◽  
J. S. ROBINSON

The rates of production of thromboxane B2 in vitro by intra-uterine tissues obtained from late pregnant monkeys by Caesarean section have been determined. The general quantitative order of rates of production was decidua basalis = decidua parietalis > placenta > chorion > amnion = myometrium. Myometrial production of thromboxane B2 was greater at term than during late pregnancy; no other tissue showed a significant trend with advancing gestation. These data demonstrate that the production of thromboxane B2 by intra-uterine tissues from late pregnant monkeys is both qualitatively and quantitatively different from the production of prostaglandins described previously. It is suggested that prostaglandins rather than thromboxanes are more intimately involved in the onset of labour in the rhesus monkey.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 1771-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Beare ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Timo Bouman ◽  
Jozelyn Pablo ◽  
Berkay Unal ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Q fever is a widespread zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Diagnosis of Q fever is usually based on serological testing of patient serum. The diagnostic antigen of test kits is formalin-fixed phase I and phase II organisms of the Nine Mile reference strain. Deficiencies of this antigen include (i) potential for cross-reactivity with other pathogens; (ii) an inability to distinguish between C. burnetii strains; and (iii) a need to propagate and purify C. burnetii, a difficult and potentially hazardous process. Consequently, there is a need for sensitive and specific serodiagnostic tests utilizing defined antigens, such as recombinant C. burnetii protein(s). Here we describe the use of a C. burnetii protein microarray to comprehensively identify immunodominant antigens recognized by antibody in the context of human C. burnetii infection or vaccination. Transcriptionally active PCR products corresponding to 1,988 C. burnetii open reading frames (ORFs) were generated. Full-length proteins were successfully synthesized from 75% of the ORFs by using an Escherichia coli-based in vitro transcription and translation system (IVTT). Nitrocellulose microarrays were spotted with crude IVTT lysates and probed with sera from acute Q fever patients and individuals vaccinated with Q-Vax. Immune sera strongly reacted with approximately 50 C. burnetii proteins, including previously identified immunogens, an ankyrin repeat-domain containing protein, and multiple hypothetical proteins. Recombinant protein corresponding to selected array-reactive antigens was generated, and the immunoreactivity was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This sensitive and high-throughput method for identifying immunoreactive C. burnetii proteins will aid in the development of Q fever serodiagnostic tests based on recombinant antigen.


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