Specific immunoassays for detection of intact and cleaved forms of the urokinase receptor

Timo Piironen, Birgitte Laursen, Jesper Pass, Karin List, Henrik Gårdsvoll, Michael Ploug, Keld Danø, Gunilla Høyer-Hansen

    61 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: The cell surface receptor (uPAR) for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a strong prognostic marker in several types of cancer. uPA cleaves the three-domain protein uPAR(I-III) into two fragments: uPAR(I), which contains domain I; and uPAR(II-III), which contains domains II and III. Established immunoassays measure a combination of uPAR forms. Our aim was to design immunoassays for specific quantification of the individual forms of uPAR.

    METHODS: Using appropriate combinations of epitope-mapped monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) for capture and europium-labeled detection Mabs, we designed two-site sandwich time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays (TR-FIAs): TR-FIA 1 to measure uPAR(I-III) alone; TR-FIA 2 to measure both uPAR(I-III) and uPAR(II-III); and TR-FIA 3 to measure uPAR(I). To avoid detection of uPAR(I-III) in TR-FIA 3, we used a combination of the peptide uPAR antagonist AE120 and a domain I antibody, R3. AE120 blocks the binding of R3 to uPAR(I-III). In contrast, AE120 does not interact with liberated domain I and therefore does not interfere with the binding of R3 to uPAR(I).

    RESULTS: The limits of quantification (CV <20%) determined by adding the proteins to uPAR-depleted plasma were <3 pmol/L in all three assays. The interassay CVs in plasma with added analytes were <11%, and recoveries were between 93% and 105%. Cross-reactivities of purified proteins in the three TR-FIAs were no more than 4%. Studies on chymotrypsin cleavage of uPAR and size-exclusion chromatography of plasma with and without added protein further supported the specificity of the assays.

    CONCLUSIONS: The three novel TR-FIAs accurately quantify uPAR(I-III) alone, uPAR(I-III) together with uPAR(II-III), and uPAR(I), respectively, in biological samples, including plasma, and thus are well suited for studies of the diagnostic and prognostic value of individual uPAR forms in cancer patients.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalClinical Chemistry
    Volume50
    Issue number11
    Pages (from-to)2059-68
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0009-9147
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Nov 2004

    Keywords

    • Biomarkers, Tumor
    • Chymotrypsin
    • Cross Reactions
    • Fluoroimmunoassay
    • Humans
    • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
    • Male
    • Prostatic Neoplasms
    • Receptors, Cell Surface
    • Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
    • Reproducibility of Results
    • Sensitivity and Specificity
    • Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
    • Journal Article
    • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Specific immunoassays for detection of intact and cleaved forms of the urokinase receptor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this