CA2062675A1 - Endometrial antigen, composition, test kit and method for endometrial antibody determination - Google Patents
Endometrial antigen, composition, test kit and method for endometrial antibody determinationInfo
- Publication number
- CA2062675A1 CA2062675A1 CA002062675A CA2062675A CA2062675A1 CA 2062675 A1 CA2062675 A1 CA 2062675A1 CA 002062675 A CA002062675 A CA 002062675A CA 2062675 A CA2062675 A CA 2062675A CA 2062675 A1 CA2062675 A1 CA 2062675A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fragment
- kilodaltons
- molecular weight
- antigen
- endometrial
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C07K—PEPTIDES
- C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
- C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
- C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
- C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
- G01N33/574—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for cancer
- G01N33/57407—Specifically defined cancers
- G01N33/57442—Specifically defined cancers of the uterus and endometrial
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2800/00—Detection or diagnosis of diseases
- G01N2800/36—Gynecology or obstetrics
- G01N2800/364—Endometriosis, i.e. non-malignant disorder in which functioning endometrial tissue is present outside the uterine cavity
Abstract
ENDOMETRIAL ANTIGEN, COMPOSITION, TEST KIT
AND METHOD FOR ENDOMETRIAL ANTIBODY DETERMINATION
A plurality of antigen fragments have been isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells. The antigens are useful in the detection of endometrial antibodies which are indicative of endometriosis. The antigens can be attached to water insoluble supports or detectably labeled to form reagents. Detection of endometrial antibodies is accomplished by reacting the antigen with the antibodies in a specimen sample followed by detection of the resulting complex. The antigens can be supplied as a buffered composition in a diagnostic test kit.
AND METHOD FOR ENDOMETRIAL ANTIBODY DETERMINATION
A plurality of antigen fragments have been isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells. The antigens are useful in the detection of endometrial antibodies which are indicative of endometriosis. The antigens can be attached to water insoluble supports or detectably labeled to form reagents. Detection of endometrial antibodies is accomplished by reacting the antigen with the antibodies in a specimen sample followed by detection of the resulting complex. The antigens can be supplied as a buffered composition in a diagnostic test kit.
Description
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!RIAII ANTIGEN, CO~POSITIO~I, T ST ~IT
A~7D METHOI:) FOR E~DOMETRIAL AN'rIBODY DETERD~I~ATION
Fi~ld_of the Invention This invention relates to the detection of endometriosis, and to antigenic fragments, reagents, diagnostic test kits and compositions useful therein.
Ba~k~rQund of the Inventl~n Endometriosis is a disease state in which tissues resembling the uterine mucous membrane, or endometrium (located in the lining of the uterus), multiply in other parts of the body, such as in the abdominal cavity. This disease is a significant probiem in gynecology. The presence of the abnormal tissues can cause abdominal bleeding, adhesions, dysmenorrhea and particularly in~ertility.
Currently, a preliminary diagnosis of endometriosis is generally made based on a patient's history of infertility, unexplained pelvic pain or other known symptoms. Confirmation is carried out using a surgical procedure termed laparoscopy to obtain a sample of tissue for biopsy. This is a procedure which is unpleasant as well as having the usual dangers associated with invasive procedures.
It has been reported that antibodies to normal endometrial tissues have been found in the serum of patients with endometriosis (see publications noted in EP-A-0 387 027). Various antigens have ~een - speculated as immunologically related to the endometrial antibodies found in the serum specimens.
In EP-A-0 387 027, endometrial antigen fragments having various molecular weights were described as isolated from cultures of several epithelial carcinoma cell lines. Monoclonal antibodies and immunological reagents directed to the antigens are also described. The antibodies and antigens were then :
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used to detect endometrial antibodies in patient specimens using various immunological procedures.
It would be desirable to have additional antigen fragments which could be used in a sensitive and accurate assay for endometrial antibodies.
Summarv o~ the Invention The present invention provides an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells, the antigen selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 53 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about ~0 to about 44 kilodaltons d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from ; about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
These antigens can be provided individually or in admixture in a buffered composition useful for detecting the presence of endometrial antibodies.
This invention also provides an endometrial antibody capture reagent comprising one or more of the endometrial antigens described above attached to a water insoluble support.
Additionally, one or more of the antigens can be detectably labeled to provide water soluble ; endometrial antibody detection reagents.
The antigen or any of the reagents described above can be provided in a diagnostic test kit along with an anti-antibody directed to an endometrial antibody.
A method for determining endometriosis comprises:
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A. contacting a specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with an antigen as described above, and B. detecting any resulting complex of the antigen with the specimen endometrial antibodies as a measure of endometriosis.
The present invention provides an advantageous means for detecting endometriosis without the need for invasive laparoscopy. This result is achieved using novel antigen fragments isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells to detect the presence of endometrial antibodies in a patient specimen, such as serum. Sensitive detection of the antibodies can be carried out using various assay formats, as described below.
B~ie~ De.~ri~tion of the Flaure The FIGURE is a photographic image of several nitrocellulose strips used in an immunoblot assay, as described in more detail in Example 4 below.
DetaiLed Descri~ion of the Inyentl~
The antigens of this invention are identified generally by molecular weight in kilodaltons. They are identified in a narrow range of molecular weight since it is standard in the art to have some inherent inaccuracy (about 10%) in electrophoretic methods for molecular weight determination. Some of the antigens have also been characterized by isoelectric point (pI).
The antigens are generally glycoprotein fragments isolated from larger glycoproteins of human epithelial adenocarcinoma cells. Included among such cells are endometrial, breast and ovary cells. The antigen fragments identified herein can be isolated from various cell lines, and may have varying amino acid compositions even though the molecular weight is the same. Also contemplated as equivalents of the naturally occurring antigens isolated from cells are .
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, ~ . ': " , ': ' ' 2(~267~i what are termed ~immunological equivalents n which are peptides which have the same molecular weight, isoelectric point and immunological reactivity with the antibodies of interest.
Representative isolated fragments of this invention are listed in Table I below, and can be used singly or in mixtures in the practice of this invention.
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; Cell Line Antigen Fragment Molecular Wei~ht (kD) (ATCC CRL-1671) : (ATCC HTB-lll) B2 33-37 HEClA Cl 63-67 (ATCC HTB-1123 C2 33-37 (ATCC CRL-1622) T47D El 63-67 (ATCC HTB-133) E2 33-37 CAOV3 Fl 63-67 (ATCC HTB-75) F2 33-37 . .
2~62~75 It is preferred to use the 33-37 kD and 40-44 kD fragments noted above, individually or in a mixture, with the mixture of the two fragments being most preferred.
Endometrial antigens can be isolated by affinity chromatography of extracts of epithelial tissue (such as endometrial tissue) which has been subjected to extraction reagents such as detergents.
Antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) specific to the antigens can be used in the chromatography process.
The treatment of the tissue extracts by column purification can be carried out using standard procedures, for example, those described by Davis et al, S~ Res. ~6, pp. 6143-6148 (1986).
In a preferred process, the antigens can be obtained from tissue culture media such as cultures of epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines such as those mentioned in EP-A-0 387 027. Representative useful cell lines are on deposit with the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Maryland), namely: cell lines HEClA (ATCC HTB-112), AN3CA (ATCC HTB-lll), RL95-2 (ATCC CRL-1671), KLE (ATCC CRL-1622), T47D (ATCC HTB-133) and CAOV3 (ATCC HTB-75).
The general procedure for isolating the 25 antigens from a cell line is as follows: The cells are grown in the recomrnended medium to greater than 90%
confluency, followed by homogenization in buffered saline solution or a solution of tris(h~droxymethyl)-aminomethane, sucrose and protease inhibitor. For extracts in buffered saline solution, particulate material is removed by centrifugation and the supernatant concentrated. In a preferred embodiment, for extracts in the sucrose solution, particulate materials are rernoved by centrifugation and the supernatant is spun at 100,000 x gravity for 1 hour at 4C, then concentrated. Extracts are then resolved '. , ~ .;" . . :.
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2~2~75 using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis for an appropriate time and voltage in an appropriate solvent system. The resulting proteins are then transferred to nitrocellulose using standard immunoblotting techniques described, for example, by Stott, J~N~ e~ho~
1~2, pp. 153-187 (1989). More details about this procedure are provided in Example 1 below. All the materials used in the extraction procedure are commercially available.
The isolated antigen or mixture thereof can be supplied in a buffered composition for use in various immunological methods. The composition is generally buffered to a pH of from about 6 to about 8 using one or more suitable buffers such as phosphate buffered saline solution, tris(hydroxvmethyl)amino-methane, glycine, 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid, borates, and others known in the art, [for example, ~ood et al, Bioche~., ~, 467 (1966)], most of which are commercially available. The amount of antigen in such a composition can vary widely depending upon its intended use. The isolated antigen fragments can be used in crude form (that is, in admixture with extraneous cellular materials) or at various levels of purification.
The antigens described herein can also be provided as detectably labeled water soluble (or water suspendible) reayents which have an appropriate label moiety coupled thereto~ Useful labels include those ; directly detectable, such as radioisotopes, chromogens, fluorogens, suspendible magnetic particles, suspendible dyed polymeric particles, chemiluminescent moieties, bioluminescent moieties, phosphors and others known in ; the art. Labels which are indirectly detectable through reaction with additional reagents include enzymes, dye-formers and others known in the art (for example, in EP-A-0 387 027). Particularly useful " ~
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labels include radioisotopes and enzymes. Useful enzyme labels include peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, urease, glucose oxidase, ~ galactosidase and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase are preferred.
The label moieties can be coupled to antigen fragments using standard technology described, for example, in US-A-4,302,438, Marchalonis, ~iochem~
113, pp. 299-305 (1969) Hnatowich et al, ~ r~zL~ L~ 65, pp. 147-157 (1983) and ~ien~e, 220, pp. 613-615 (1983) for radiolabeling, and Yoshitake et al, Eur.~BiQchem., 101, 395 (1979), Pesce et al, ~lin~h~m~, 20, pp. 353-359 (1974), US-A-4,302,438, US-A-4,376,110 and US-RE-31,006 and references mentioned therein, for example, for labeling with enzymes. Antigens can be coupled to magnetic or magnetizable particles using the teaching of, for example, US-A-4,795,698. Chemiluminescent moieties can be coupled to antigens according to the teaching of, for example, US-A-4,380,580. Dyed or fluorescent particles are useful as lab~ls and can be attached to antigen according to US-A-4,259,313, EP-A-0 208 556 and EP-A-308 235. Fluoroscein or other fluorescent moities can be attached as a label using known procedures.
The antigen can also be labeled with a specific binding moiety that is not specific for endometrial antibodies. Such moieties include avidin, biotin, a lectin, a sugar and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The moiety would be reactive with its corresponding receptor which can be labeled with an enzyme radioisotope or other moiety as described above. For example, if the antigen i~
labeled with biotin, the corresponding receptor, avidin, can be coupled to an enzyme. Such labeling :
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techni~ues are described, for example, in US-A-4,496,654, EP-A-0 201 079 and EP-A-0 370 694.
For particles used in this reagent to be water suspendible, normally they are less than about 1 mmeter in size so that they stay suspended in water for at least 3 hours with little or no agitation.
The antigen of this invention can also be coupled with water insoluble supports to provide capture reagents. Any useful support can be used as long as it is not readily suspendible in water (unlike the reagents described above) and does not interfere with the antibody-antigen reaction or any other reactions necessary for detection of that immunological reaction. Useful supports include particles of organic and inorganic polymers, glass, ceramics, silica gel, metals, metal oxides, filters of paper, glass, matted fibers and particulate structures, microporous polymeric filters, gels, microtiter plates, test tubes, test cups, vials and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The particles are generally greater than about 0.05 umeters in diameter. Useful materials for such supports would also be apparent to one skilled in the art particularly in view of the teaching in EP-~-0 387 027. The antigens can be attached to such materials by adsorption or other non-covalent means (see for example US-A-4,528,267) or covalent means using techniques generally known, including those described above for coupling particulate labels to antigen, and others described by Chibata, Immobilized ~nzymes, Halsted Press: New York (1978) and Cautrecasas, ~io.Ch~m., ~, 1059 (1970).
Thus, coupling can be directly to the support through reactive groups or ionic bonds, or through coupling moieties or proteins as is known in the art. For example, the antigens can be coupled to microtiter ; ~ ~
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plates by non-specific adsorption or covalent coupling to a reactive group on the plates.
Antibodies to the antigens of this invention can be developed using standard technology. For example, polyclonal antibodies can be prepared using suitable mammals, such as goats, monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses as hosts. The resulting antisera can be purified using conventional affinity chromatography such as described by Mishell et al, ~çlçs~ e_od~_lD~CellularI mmunolooy, San Francisco, Freeman (1980).
Non-human monoclonal antibodies can also be prepared using the standard method of Kohler et al, Nature, ~, pp. 495-497 (1975) involving the use of hybridomas prepared from immunized mice or rats to produce suspended spleen cells. Suitable hybridomas are available from either commercial sources or various cell culture collections including the ATCC.
Other types of antibodies, including human monoclonal antibodies specific to the antigen and antiidiotypic antibodies can be prepared using the procedures described in more detail in EP-A-0 387 027.
The antigens of this invention are useful for the detection (quantitative, qualitative or both) of endometrial anti~odies found in human body fluids, such as whole blood, blood serum, suspensions of endometrial tissues, peritoneal fluid and uterine fluid or secretions. Preferably, the antibodies are detected in blood serum. These antibodies are generally identified as human IgG type antibodies although IgA type antibodies may also be present.
Detection of endometrial antibodies can be carried out using a variety of immunological methods, all of which are generally well known in the art as involving the preferential binding of the antigens of ~ this invention with the corresponding endometrial " ~
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antibodies. Such methods include, but are not limited to, competitive binding assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassays (ELIS~), radioimmunoassays (RIA), immunometric assays (sandwich~, immunoblots, agglutination assays, light scattering assays and ultrasonic probe assays.
Immunoblots can be carried out using standard procedures described, for example, by Stott (noted above). Generally, the antigen is transferred to an immunoblot medium such as nitrocellulose (which is preferred), nylon or polyvinylidine difluoride, nonspecific sites are blocked with appropriate materials, and the patient sample is brought into contact with the medium for a sufficient period of time and temperature for antibodies in the sample to complex with antigen in the medium. Following washing, the complex in the medium can be contacted with detectably labeled antigen which can Usandwich'' the antibodies, or with detectably labeled anti-antibodies directed to the ~ 20 endometrial antibodies. A representative immunoblot is -~ described in Example 5 below, and the results shown in the Figure.
Light scattering assays are useful to detect endometrial antibodies using the antigens of th}s invention according to the teaching of EP-A-0 387 027.
Competitive binding assays generally involve contacting the specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with the antigen and a Xnown quantity of labeled endometrial antibodies. The labeled and unlabeled antibodies compete to complex with the antigen, and the amount of detectable signal from the complex is inversely proportional to the amount of unlabeled antibodies in the specimen. The labeled antibodies can be prepared using materials and procedures described generally above for labeled antigen. Further details of such assays can be , . , , , ,, :
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obtained by consulting the considerable literature in this art, including US-A-3,654,090.
Another type of immunoassay is what is known as an immunometric or sandwich assay in which the targeted endometrial antibodies are ~sandwichedU
between specific binding materials. In one embodiment, the specific binding materials both comprise endometrial antigen, one being detectably labeled (that is a detection reagent), and the other being a capture reagent as described above. In another embodiment one specific binding material in the sandwich can be either a capture or detection reagent comprising an antigen as described herein, and the other is a capture or labeled anti-antibody directed to the endometrial antibodies.
The anti-antibodies are advantageously labeled with a fl~uoro~en, enzyme or radioisotope. Where the anti-antibody is labeled with an enzyme, the assay is known ~ as an ELISA. Specific details about such assays are ; well known in the art, including US-RE-32,696, US-A-4,376,110 and US-A-4,486,530.
In many of the assays described above, various wash solutions, blocking solutions, and dye-providing solutions (if the label is an enzyme or other chemical requiring further reaction for detectic,n) may be needed. The details of such materials would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art having relevant publications at hand. Obviously, the specific reagents used would be dependent upon the form of assay and labels used therein.
Patient samples, such as serum samples, can be diluted if desired with water, buffer or suitable diluents commercially available for that purpose.
Particularly useful diluent compositions are described in EP-A-0 337 785 (published October 18, 1989).
The assays can be carried out in appropriate equipment or test devices. Immunoblots, for example, ~:.
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~. , 2~2~75 are carried out using appropriate media, such as nitrocellulose strips. Competitive binding and sandwich assays can be carried out using micro-titer plates having a multiplicity of test wells, test tubes, test slides, disposable test devices such as those described in US-A-3,825,410, US-A-3,888,629, US-A-3,970,429, US-A-4,446,232, US-A-4,870,007, US-A-4,921,677 and US-A-4,948,561, and other containers readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Preferred test devices include microtiter plates and disposable test devi.ces (commercially available in SureCellTM test kits marketed by Eastman Kodak Company) having microporous membrane disposed therein for separating complexed materials from uncomplexed materials.
The antigens, compositions or reagents of this invention can be supplied individually or as part of a diagnostic test kit. Such kits may include the compositions and reagents (noted above) used in particular assays as well as the necessary instructions, test devices, specimen handling equipment for assaying one or more specimens. Preferably, the kit includes the antigen (or mixture thereof), labeled anti-antibodies to the endometrial antibodies, and a means for detecting the resulting immunological reaction. The detecting means can be a test device, microtiter plate, a dye-providing composition or others known in tne art, or a combination thereof.
The following examples are presented here to illustrate the practice of this invention. They are not meant to be limiting in the scope or specific embodiments. Unless otherwise indicated, the percentages are by weight.
Example 1: Isolation of ~n~ometrial Antiq~s The following procedure and materials were used to isolate several antigen fragments using various epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines.
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Six cell lines: ~EClA (ATCC HTB-112), AN3CA
(ATCC HTB-lll), RL95-2 (ATCC CRL-1671), KLE (ATCC CRL-1622), T47D (ATCC HTB 133) and CAOV3 (ATCC HTB-75) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection ~Rockvill e, Maryland).
Each cell line was treated in the following manner: it was grown in recommended media (for example, commercially available McCoy's media for HEClA) to greater than 90~ confluency. The resulting cells were homogenized in a solution of tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane buffer (50 mmolar, pH 7.4), sucrose (250 mmolar) and protease inhibitor (a mixture oE 0.5 ~gtml of leupeptin, 0. 7 ~g/ml of pepstatin, 372 ~g/ml of EDTA
Na2 and 2 ~g/ml of aprotinin available from Boehringer-Mannheim or Sigma Chemical) for 2 minutes at 4C usinga mechanical homogenizer. Particulate material was r~moved b~ centrifugation, followed by ultracentrifuga-tion at 100,000 x gravity for ~ hour at 4C, and the supernatant was then concentrated using a Centricell concentrator (30,000 normal molecular weight limit, Polysciences, Warrington, Pa.) to about 0.5-10 mg/ml protein.
The extracts were resolved using SDS-PAGE
electrophoresis with a 10% uniform polyacrylamide ; 25 reducing gel in a buffer solution of tris(hydroxy-methyl)aminomethane buffer (25 mmolar, pH 8.5), glycine buffer (200 mmolar), sodium dodecylsulfate (0.1%) and sodium acetate (100 mmolar) for 3-4 hours, increasing the voltage to 400 volts.
Isoelectric point (pI) was determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The cell lysate proteins, prepared as described above, were first separated by isoelectric point using isoelectric focusing in the first dimension, and then the electrofocused proteins were separated according to molecular weight by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in the second dimension. The . ~
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proteins were blotted to nitrocellulose as described in Stott, J.I~mun. Methods, 119, pp. 153-187, (1989). The blotted protein was probed with patient serum and reactive proteins were developed using a standard detection system. The positive serum antigens (which are the 63-67 kD, 40-44 kD and 33-37 kD antigens) were compared to the negative serum antigens (which are common to negative and positive serum: which may include 30-32 kD, 18-22 kD, 47-50 kD and 28-30 kD
antigens). Antigens unique to the positive serum were then noted and the molecular weights and isoelectric ; points calculated.
The molecular weight of each fragment was determined by comparing measured distances (cm) of ; 15 target antigens to the measured distances (cm) of a resolved mixture of standard SDS-PAGE low molecular weight protein markers. Molecular weights were determined and expressed in kilodaltons (kD) using a polynomial curve fit calculated using CricketgraphTM
software (available from Cricket Software, Inc.), and EXCELTM software (available from Microsoft). Both programs were run on a Macintosh 2 computer.
The isolated antigen fra~nents and available data are listed in Table II below. The molecular weight of each fragment is listed as a narrow range because the exact value is difficult to determine using known procedures and a 10% variation is generally ; accepted in the art.
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T A B L E II
Antigen Cell Line MolecularIsoelectric Fragment Source Weight (kD)** Point A RL95-2 63-67 NA*
C1 HEClA 63-67 4.5 2 HEClA 33-37 5.8 3 HEClA 40-44 4.6 4 HEClA 59-64 6.0 1 T47D 63-67 4.5 E3 T47D 40-44 4.6 1 CAOV3 63-67 4.5 2 CAOV3 33~-37 5.5 F3 CAOV3 40-44 4.6 4 CAOV3 59-64 6.0 *NA = not available ** kD = kilodaltons @ values reflect plus or minus 1.0 Example 2: uffere~ ~om~Qsitions of Anti~en~
~; One or more of the antigens were added to tris(hydrox~methyl)aminomethane buffer (pH 8.3) to form a crude buffered composition of this invention. These compositions can be stored in suitable containers, for example in test kits, until their use or immobilization on solid supports for use in assays.
Example 3: Pre~ration of ~ndometElal Antibody - 15 CaptuE~Reaaent ~his is an example of the preparation of an endometrial antibody capture reagent of this invention.
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A mixture of endometrial antigens (E1, E2 and E3) were isolated as described in Example 1 and further treated in the following manner:
The antigen mixture was added to a Waters Protein-Pak DEAE-5PW Anion-Exchange colurnn. An isochratic elution was performed using 5% of Buffer A
consisting of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane HCl (O.1 molar), 15% of Buffer B consisting of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (0.1 molar), and ~0% of distilled deionized water at a flow rate of 1 ml/minute. The initial, unbound fractions were ;collected and pooled, and the protein concentration was determined.
The resulting solution was diluted to 30 ~g protein/ml in phosphate buffered saline solution, and a sample (100 ~l) was added to each well of a polystyrene microtiter plate and incubated at room temperature for two hours. The plate was then washed three times with phosphate buffered saline solution. Remaining binding sites on the plates were blocked with bovine serum alburnin (3%~ in phosphate buffered saline solution for two hours at room temperature. The plate was then washed three times with a solution of TweenTM 2C
nonionic suractant (0.05~) in phosphate buffered saline solution.
Serum samples were diluted at 1:5 or 1:10 in ;a diluent of TweenTM 20 (0.05%) and bovine serum albumin (3%) in phosphate buffered saline solution.
The diluted samples were incubated in the plate wells for two hours at room temperature while being shaken.
The wells were washed three tirne with the wash solution containing TweenTM 20.
Goat anti-human irnmunoglobumin F(ab')2 fragments conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, diluted ~; 35 in the diluent and filtered through a 0.2 micrometer ,, :, -''''"' -'',~
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filter, were added to the wells and allowed to react for 1 hour at room temperature.
The plate was again washed three times, and a ~ye-providing composition (200 ~l) was added to each well and allowed to react for about five minutes. This composition included 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazole leuco dye (0.2 mmolar) poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (1.25 %), 4'-~ydroxyacetanilide - (5 mmolar), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelator (O.01 mmolar) and hydrogen peroxide (~ mmolar) in sodium phosphate buffer (10 mmolar, pH 6.8).
A solution (100 ~1) to stop dye formation was added and the dye density was evaluated. The resulting dye signal was more than twice that observed for a background signal.
Example 4: ~etection of Endometrial Antibodies in Pat~ent S~ecimens This example demonstrates the use of the isolated endometrial antigens to detect endometrial antibodies present in patient blood sera by immunoblotting techni~ues.
The antigen fragments described in Example 1 ~ere transferred to nitrocellulose strips using optimized immunoblotting techniques as described by Stott, su~a. The buffer for transfer was composed of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane bu~fer (25 mmolar, pH
8.3), glycine (200 mmolar) and methanol (20%, HPLC
grade). To carry out the transfer, 75 volts at 4C
were applied for 2 hours. Upon completion of the transfer, nonspecific protein binding sites were blocked for one hour at 24C with a ~blockinga solution of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (20 mmolar, pH 7.5) containing gelatin (3%), normal goat serum (0.4%) and sodium chloride (500 mmolar). The blocked nitrocellulose was then washed twice, 5 minutes each time, with tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (20 mmolar, ,:
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2~2~75 pH 7.5) containing sodium chloride (500 mmolar) and Tween 20 nonionic surfactant (0.05~). The nitrocellulose strips and diluted serum samples (10 ml) were then contacted for incubation for two hours at 24C. The serum had been diluted 100-fold in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (20 mmolar, pH 7.5) containing gelatin (1%), sodium chloride (500 mmolar), and TweenTM 20 nonionic surfactant (0.05~).
Sera believed to contain endometrial antibodies (as determined by indirect immunofluore-scence microscopy) and as being from patients known to have endometriosis (as determined by laparoscopy) were tested. Sera known to be negative for endometrial antibodies using similar techniques were also tested as negative Controls.
After serum incubation, the nitrocellulose strips were washed four times (5 minutes each time) with the buffered solution containing TweenTM 20 noted above (30 ml) to remove uncomplexed materials (such as primary serum antibodies).
The strips were then incubated for two hours at 24C in contact with anti antibodies (13.2 ~l of conjugate in 40 ml of solution used to dilute patient serum) directed to the serum endometrial antibodies bound to the immobilized transferred antigen fragments.
The anti-antibodies were comprised of goat anti-human IgG (heavy and light chain) antibodies labeled with -; alkaline phosphatase for detection. The conjugate was purchased as part of an IMMUN-BLOTTM assay kit (BioRad Laboratories). Upon completion of the antibody-conjugate incubation, the nitrocellulose strips were washed four times (5 minutes each) with the buffered Tween~M 20 solution noted above, and once (5 minutes) with the buffer solution noted above without TweenTM 20 to remove uncomplexed reactants and excess TweenTM 20 nonionic surfactant.
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Upon completion of sufficient color development of the bands (usually about 20 minutes), the substrate was removed and the strips were washed with deionized, distilled water for 10 minutes to ~uench further color formation. Tables III and IV
below show the results of the sera screen using the assay noted above. The antigens used for obtaining the data in Table III were extracted using phosphate buffered saline solution while Table IV data were obtained using antigens extracted using the buffered sucrose solution described in Example 1 above.
The FIGURE shows the immunoblot bands in strips la, lb, 2a and 2b for the C3 (40-44 kilodalton) and C2 (33-37 kilodalton) fragments (identified in the FIGURE as "42 kD~ and "35 kD", respectively). Bands lc, ld, 2c and 2d are negative controls and do not show bands for the noted fragments.
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T A B L E III
Normal Patients Endometriosis Patients Antigen (positives/ (positives/
ment(s) total samPlesl total sam~les) Bl 0/2 3/3 Cl 1/8 9/11 T A B L E IV
~ 5 : Normal Patients Endometriosis Patients Antigen (positives/ (positives/
Fragment(s)total sam~es~ _ total samples) ` 2 0/5 5/5 ~i B2 0/4 6/6 ;~- B3 0/4 6/6 Example 5~ ~etection_of EndQmetrial Antibodi~_~ins ~, ~is~osabl~I~st Devic~
This example demonstrates the detection of : 10 endometrial antibodies using a disposable test device : and the ELISA immunological technique.
Materials:
.; Non-purified antigen (containing fragments ,~ Cl, C2 and C3, identified in Table I above) isolated . ~ 15 from HEClA cell line (as described above) was ~':
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covalently attached to particles composed of poly[styrene-~Q-3-(~-vinylbenzylthio)propionic acid]
t97.59:2.41 molar ratio, 1.4 ~m average diameter) ~2.53% solids) to form a particulate capture reagent of this invention.
A particulate negative control reagent was prepared by similarly immobilizing a-casein on the same type of particles (2.05% solids).
The disposable test device used was a SureCellTM test device (Eastman Kodak Company) having a LoProdyne M polyamide microporous (5 ~m) membrane (Pall Corporation) mounted therein. The test device has three test wells, one for the negative control, and two for the specimen. The particulate reagents described above (0.3% final solids) were coated on designated test well membranes in the test device, and dried overnight at room temperature.
The serum diluent composition used was composed of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (100 mmolar, pH 8.0), succinylated casein (1%), Tween 20 (0.05%) and gum arabic (1~) (available from Cetus Corporation). This diluent is similar to that r described in EP-A-0 337 785 (noted above).
The wash solution was comprised of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (10%), NonidetTM p_40 (0.1%), sodium chloride (500 mmolar), TweenTM 20 (0.25%), sodium phosphate, monobasic (50 mmolar, pH 7.4) (available from Cetus Corporation).
The anti-antibodies were goat anti-human IgG
(heavy and light chain) antibodies and were conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (available from Jackson Immunoresearch).
The leuco dye composition comprised 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-imidazole leuco dye (0.23 mmolar) poly(vinylpyr-rolidone) (1.25 %), 4'-hydroxyacetanilide (5 mmolar), , ' ., ;
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diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid chelator (0.01 mmolar) and hydrogen peroxide (8 mmolar) in sodium phosphate buffer (10 mmolar, pH 6.8).
The dye stop solution comprised sodium azide (0.1%).
As~Y~Procedure:
A patient serum sample (25 ,ul) was diluted by adding it to the serum diluent (2 ml) in standard assay squeeze tubes. Filter tips were attached to the tubes, and the diluted sample was added to each well of the test device to the top of the fill dot. Fluid was allowed to flow through the membranes.
Diluted (1:10,000) labeled anti-antibodies (40 ~l) were added to each test well. Fluid was allowed to drain through the membranes and the test was incubated for one minute. Each test well was then washed twice (250 ~1) with the wash solution.
The dye-providing composition (40 ,ul) was then added to each test well. The fluid was allowed to ~; 20 drain and the test was incubated for 2 minutes. The `- dye stop solution (80 ~l) was then added, followed by fluid drainage.
The visual dye signal was evaluated and scored (0 being lowest dye signal and 10 being the highest). Transmission densities were also measured ~' using standard densitometric procedures. The results are shown in Table V below.
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!RIAII ANTIGEN, CO~POSITIO~I, T ST ~IT
A~7D METHOI:) FOR E~DOMETRIAL AN'rIBODY DETERD~I~ATION
Fi~ld_of the Invention This invention relates to the detection of endometriosis, and to antigenic fragments, reagents, diagnostic test kits and compositions useful therein.
Ba~k~rQund of the Inventl~n Endometriosis is a disease state in which tissues resembling the uterine mucous membrane, or endometrium (located in the lining of the uterus), multiply in other parts of the body, such as in the abdominal cavity. This disease is a significant probiem in gynecology. The presence of the abnormal tissues can cause abdominal bleeding, adhesions, dysmenorrhea and particularly in~ertility.
Currently, a preliminary diagnosis of endometriosis is generally made based on a patient's history of infertility, unexplained pelvic pain or other known symptoms. Confirmation is carried out using a surgical procedure termed laparoscopy to obtain a sample of tissue for biopsy. This is a procedure which is unpleasant as well as having the usual dangers associated with invasive procedures.
It has been reported that antibodies to normal endometrial tissues have been found in the serum of patients with endometriosis (see publications noted in EP-A-0 387 027). Various antigens have ~een - speculated as immunologically related to the endometrial antibodies found in the serum specimens.
In EP-A-0 387 027, endometrial antigen fragments having various molecular weights were described as isolated from cultures of several epithelial carcinoma cell lines. Monoclonal antibodies and immunological reagents directed to the antigens are also described. The antibodies and antigens were then :
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used to detect endometrial antibodies in patient specimens using various immunological procedures.
It would be desirable to have additional antigen fragments which could be used in a sensitive and accurate assay for endometrial antibodies.
Summarv o~ the Invention The present invention provides an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells, the antigen selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 53 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about ~0 to about 44 kilodaltons d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from ; about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
These antigens can be provided individually or in admixture in a buffered composition useful for detecting the presence of endometrial antibodies.
This invention also provides an endometrial antibody capture reagent comprising one or more of the endometrial antigens described above attached to a water insoluble support.
Additionally, one or more of the antigens can be detectably labeled to provide water soluble ; endometrial antibody detection reagents.
The antigen or any of the reagents described above can be provided in a diagnostic test kit along with an anti-antibody directed to an endometrial antibody.
A method for determining endometriosis comprises:
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A. contacting a specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with an antigen as described above, and B. detecting any resulting complex of the antigen with the specimen endometrial antibodies as a measure of endometriosis.
The present invention provides an advantageous means for detecting endometriosis without the need for invasive laparoscopy. This result is achieved using novel antigen fragments isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells to detect the presence of endometrial antibodies in a patient specimen, such as serum. Sensitive detection of the antibodies can be carried out using various assay formats, as described below.
B~ie~ De.~ri~tion of the Flaure The FIGURE is a photographic image of several nitrocellulose strips used in an immunoblot assay, as described in more detail in Example 4 below.
DetaiLed Descri~ion of the Inyentl~
The antigens of this invention are identified generally by molecular weight in kilodaltons. They are identified in a narrow range of molecular weight since it is standard in the art to have some inherent inaccuracy (about 10%) in electrophoretic methods for molecular weight determination. Some of the antigens have also been characterized by isoelectric point (pI).
The antigens are generally glycoprotein fragments isolated from larger glycoproteins of human epithelial adenocarcinoma cells. Included among such cells are endometrial, breast and ovary cells. The antigen fragments identified herein can be isolated from various cell lines, and may have varying amino acid compositions even though the molecular weight is the same. Also contemplated as equivalents of the naturally occurring antigens isolated from cells are .
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, ~ . ': " , ': ' ' 2(~267~i what are termed ~immunological equivalents n which are peptides which have the same molecular weight, isoelectric point and immunological reactivity with the antibodies of interest.
Representative isolated fragments of this invention are listed in Table I below, and can be used singly or in mixtures in the practice of this invention.
~
; Cell Line Antigen Fragment Molecular Wei~ht (kD) (ATCC CRL-1671) : (ATCC HTB-lll) B2 33-37 HEClA Cl 63-67 (ATCC HTB-1123 C2 33-37 (ATCC CRL-1622) T47D El 63-67 (ATCC HTB-133) E2 33-37 CAOV3 Fl 63-67 (ATCC HTB-75) F2 33-37 . .
2~62~75 It is preferred to use the 33-37 kD and 40-44 kD fragments noted above, individually or in a mixture, with the mixture of the two fragments being most preferred.
Endometrial antigens can be isolated by affinity chromatography of extracts of epithelial tissue (such as endometrial tissue) which has been subjected to extraction reagents such as detergents.
Antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) specific to the antigens can be used in the chromatography process.
The treatment of the tissue extracts by column purification can be carried out using standard procedures, for example, those described by Davis et al, S~ Res. ~6, pp. 6143-6148 (1986).
In a preferred process, the antigens can be obtained from tissue culture media such as cultures of epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines such as those mentioned in EP-A-0 387 027. Representative useful cell lines are on deposit with the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Maryland), namely: cell lines HEClA (ATCC HTB-112), AN3CA (ATCC HTB-lll), RL95-2 (ATCC CRL-1671), KLE (ATCC CRL-1622), T47D (ATCC HTB-133) and CAOV3 (ATCC HTB-75).
The general procedure for isolating the 25 antigens from a cell line is as follows: The cells are grown in the recomrnended medium to greater than 90%
confluency, followed by homogenization in buffered saline solution or a solution of tris(h~droxymethyl)-aminomethane, sucrose and protease inhibitor. For extracts in buffered saline solution, particulate material is removed by centrifugation and the supernatant concentrated. In a preferred embodiment, for extracts in the sucrose solution, particulate materials are rernoved by centrifugation and the supernatant is spun at 100,000 x gravity for 1 hour at 4C, then concentrated. Extracts are then resolved '. , ~ .;" . . :.
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2~2~75 using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis for an appropriate time and voltage in an appropriate solvent system. The resulting proteins are then transferred to nitrocellulose using standard immunoblotting techniques described, for example, by Stott, J~N~ e~ho~
1~2, pp. 153-187 (1989). More details about this procedure are provided in Example 1 below. All the materials used in the extraction procedure are commercially available.
The isolated antigen or mixture thereof can be supplied in a buffered composition for use in various immunological methods. The composition is generally buffered to a pH of from about 6 to about 8 using one or more suitable buffers such as phosphate buffered saline solution, tris(hydroxvmethyl)amino-methane, glycine, 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid, borates, and others known in the art, [for example, ~ood et al, Bioche~., ~, 467 (1966)], most of which are commercially available. The amount of antigen in such a composition can vary widely depending upon its intended use. The isolated antigen fragments can be used in crude form (that is, in admixture with extraneous cellular materials) or at various levels of purification.
The antigens described herein can also be provided as detectably labeled water soluble (or water suspendible) reayents which have an appropriate label moiety coupled thereto~ Useful labels include those ; directly detectable, such as radioisotopes, chromogens, fluorogens, suspendible magnetic particles, suspendible dyed polymeric particles, chemiluminescent moieties, bioluminescent moieties, phosphors and others known in ; the art. Labels which are indirectly detectable through reaction with additional reagents include enzymes, dye-formers and others known in the art (for example, in EP-A-0 387 027). Particularly useful " ~
, 20B~67~
labels include radioisotopes and enzymes. Useful enzyme labels include peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, urease, glucose oxidase, ~ galactosidase and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase are preferred.
The label moieties can be coupled to antigen fragments using standard technology described, for example, in US-A-4,302,438, Marchalonis, ~iochem~
113, pp. 299-305 (1969) Hnatowich et al, ~ r~zL~ L~ 65, pp. 147-157 (1983) and ~ien~e, 220, pp. 613-615 (1983) for radiolabeling, and Yoshitake et al, Eur.~BiQchem., 101, 395 (1979), Pesce et al, ~lin~h~m~, 20, pp. 353-359 (1974), US-A-4,302,438, US-A-4,376,110 and US-RE-31,006 and references mentioned therein, for example, for labeling with enzymes. Antigens can be coupled to magnetic or magnetizable particles using the teaching of, for example, US-A-4,795,698. Chemiluminescent moieties can be coupled to antigens according to the teaching of, for example, US-A-4,380,580. Dyed or fluorescent particles are useful as lab~ls and can be attached to antigen according to US-A-4,259,313, EP-A-0 208 556 and EP-A-308 235. Fluoroscein or other fluorescent moities can be attached as a label using known procedures.
The antigen can also be labeled with a specific binding moiety that is not specific for endometrial antibodies. Such moieties include avidin, biotin, a lectin, a sugar and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The moiety would be reactive with its corresponding receptor which can be labeled with an enzyme radioisotope or other moiety as described above. For example, if the antigen i~
labeled with biotin, the corresponding receptor, avidin, can be coupled to an enzyme. Such labeling :
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techni~ues are described, for example, in US-A-4,496,654, EP-A-0 201 079 and EP-A-0 370 694.
For particles used in this reagent to be water suspendible, normally they are less than about 1 mmeter in size so that they stay suspended in water for at least 3 hours with little or no agitation.
The antigen of this invention can also be coupled with water insoluble supports to provide capture reagents. Any useful support can be used as long as it is not readily suspendible in water (unlike the reagents described above) and does not interfere with the antibody-antigen reaction or any other reactions necessary for detection of that immunological reaction. Useful supports include particles of organic and inorganic polymers, glass, ceramics, silica gel, metals, metal oxides, filters of paper, glass, matted fibers and particulate structures, microporous polymeric filters, gels, microtiter plates, test tubes, test cups, vials and others readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The particles are generally greater than about 0.05 umeters in diameter. Useful materials for such supports would also be apparent to one skilled in the art particularly in view of the teaching in EP-~-0 387 027. The antigens can be attached to such materials by adsorption or other non-covalent means (see for example US-A-4,528,267) or covalent means using techniques generally known, including those described above for coupling particulate labels to antigen, and others described by Chibata, Immobilized ~nzymes, Halsted Press: New York (1978) and Cautrecasas, ~io.Ch~m., ~, 1059 (1970).
Thus, coupling can be directly to the support through reactive groups or ionic bonds, or through coupling moieties or proteins as is known in the art. For example, the antigens can be coupled to microtiter ; ~ ~
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plates by non-specific adsorption or covalent coupling to a reactive group on the plates.
Antibodies to the antigens of this invention can be developed using standard technology. For example, polyclonal antibodies can be prepared using suitable mammals, such as goats, monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses as hosts. The resulting antisera can be purified using conventional affinity chromatography such as described by Mishell et al, ~çlçs~ e_od~_lD~CellularI mmunolooy, San Francisco, Freeman (1980).
Non-human monoclonal antibodies can also be prepared using the standard method of Kohler et al, Nature, ~, pp. 495-497 (1975) involving the use of hybridomas prepared from immunized mice or rats to produce suspended spleen cells. Suitable hybridomas are available from either commercial sources or various cell culture collections including the ATCC.
Other types of antibodies, including human monoclonal antibodies specific to the antigen and antiidiotypic antibodies can be prepared using the procedures described in more detail in EP-A-0 387 027.
The antigens of this invention are useful for the detection (quantitative, qualitative or both) of endometrial anti~odies found in human body fluids, such as whole blood, blood serum, suspensions of endometrial tissues, peritoneal fluid and uterine fluid or secretions. Preferably, the antibodies are detected in blood serum. These antibodies are generally identified as human IgG type antibodies although IgA type antibodies may also be present.
Detection of endometrial antibodies can be carried out using a variety of immunological methods, all of which are generally well known in the art as involving the preferential binding of the antigens of ~ this invention with the corresponding endometrial " ~
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antibodies. Such methods include, but are not limited to, competitive binding assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassays (ELIS~), radioimmunoassays (RIA), immunometric assays (sandwich~, immunoblots, agglutination assays, light scattering assays and ultrasonic probe assays.
Immunoblots can be carried out using standard procedures described, for example, by Stott (noted above). Generally, the antigen is transferred to an immunoblot medium such as nitrocellulose (which is preferred), nylon or polyvinylidine difluoride, nonspecific sites are blocked with appropriate materials, and the patient sample is brought into contact with the medium for a sufficient period of time and temperature for antibodies in the sample to complex with antigen in the medium. Following washing, the complex in the medium can be contacted with detectably labeled antigen which can Usandwich'' the antibodies, or with detectably labeled anti-antibodies directed to the ~ 20 endometrial antibodies. A representative immunoblot is -~ described in Example 5 below, and the results shown in the Figure.
Light scattering assays are useful to detect endometrial antibodies using the antigens of th}s invention according to the teaching of EP-A-0 387 027.
Competitive binding assays generally involve contacting the specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with the antigen and a Xnown quantity of labeled endometrial antibodies. The labeled and unlabeled antibodies compete to complex with the antigen, and the amount of detectable signal from the complex is inversely proportional to the amount of unlabeled antibodies in the specimen. The labeled antibodies can be prepared using materials and procedures described generally above for labeled antigen. Further details of such assays can be , . , , , ,, :
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obtained by consulting the considerable literature in this art, including US-A-3,654,090.
Another type of immunoassay is what is known as an immunometric or sandwich assay in which the targeted endometrial antibodies are ~sandwichedU
between specific binding materials. In one embodiment, the specific binding materials both comprise endometrial antigen, one being detectably labeled (that is a detection reagent), and the other being a capture reagent as described above. In another embodiment one specific binding material in the sandwich can be either a capture or detection reagent comprising an antigen as described herein, and the other is a capture or labeled anti-antibody directed to the endometrial antibodies.
The anti-antibodies are advantageously labeled with a fl~uoro~en, enzyme or radioisotope. Where the anti-antibody is labeled with an enzyme, the assay is known ~ as an ELISA. Specific details about such assays are ; well known in the art, including US-RE-32,696, US-A-4,376,110 and US-A-4,486,530.
In many of the assays described above, various wash solutions, blocking solutions, and dye-providing solutions (if the label is an enzyme or other chemical requiring further reaction for detectic,n) may be needed. The details of such materials would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art having relevant publications at hand. Obviously, the specific reagents used would be dependent upon the form of assay and labels used therein.
Patient samples, such as serum samples, can be diluted if desired with water, buffer or suitable diluents commercially available for that purpose.
Particularly useful diluent compositions are described in EP-A-0 337 785 (published October 18, 1989).
The assays can be carried out in appropriate equipment or test devices. Immunoblots, for example, ~:.
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~. , 2~2~75 are carried out using appropriate media, such as nitrocellulose strips. Competitive binding and sandwich assays can be carried out using micro-titer plates having a multiplicity of test wells, test tubes, test slides, disposable test devices such as those described in US-A-3,825,410, US-A-3,888,629, US-A-3,970,429, US-A-4,446,232, US-A-4,870,007, US-A-4,921,677 and US-A-4,948,561, and other containers readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Preferred test devices include microtiter plates and disposable test devi.ces (commercially available in SureCellTM test kits marketed by Eastman Kodak Company) having microporous membrane disposed therein for separating complexed materials from uncomplexed materials.
The antigens, compositions or reagents of this invention can be supplied individually or as part of a diagnostic test kit. Such kits may include the compositions and reagents (noted above) used in particular assays as well as the necessary instructions, test devices, specimen handling equipment for assaying one or more specimens. Preferably, the kit includes the antigen (or mixture thereof), labeled anti-antibodies to the endometrial antibodies, and a means for detecting the resulting immunological reaction. The detecting means can be a test device, microtiter plate, a dye-providing composition or others known in tne art, or a combination thereof.
The following examples are presented here to illustrate the practice of this invention. They are not meant to be limiting in the scope or specific embodiments. Unless otherwise indicated, the percentages are by weight.
Example 1: Isolation of ~n~ometrial Antiq~s The following procedure and materials were used to isolate several antigen fragments using various epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines.
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Six cell lines: ~EClA (ATCC HTB-112), AN3CA
(ATCC HTB-lll), RL95-2 (ATCC CRL-1671), KLE (ATCC CRL-1622), T47D (ATCC HTB 133) and CAOV3 (ATCC HTB-75) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection ~Rockvill e, Maryland).
Each cell line was treated in the following manner: it was grown in recommended media (for example, commercially available McCoy's media for HEClA) to greater than 90~ confluency. The resulting cells were homogenized in a solution of tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane buffer (50 mmolar, pH 7.4), sucrose (250 mmolar) and protease inhibitor (a mixture oE 0.5 ~gtml of leupeptin, 0. 7 ~g/ml of pepstatin, 372 ~g/ml of EDTA
Na2 and 2 ~g/ml of aprotinin available from Boehringer-Mannheim or Sigma Chemical) for 2 minutes at 4C usinga mechanical homogenizer. Particulate material was r~moved b~ centrifugation, followed by ultracentrifuga-tion at 100,000 x gravity for ~ hour at 4C, and the supernatant was then concentrated using a Centricell concentrator (30,000 normal molecular weight limit, Polysciences, Warrington, Pa.) to about 0.5-10 mg/ml protein.
The extracts were resolved using SDS-PAGE
electrophoresis with a 10% uniform polyacrylamide ; 25 reducing gel in a buffer solution of tris(hydroxy-methyl)aminomethane buffer (25 mmolar, pH 8.5), glycine buffer (200 mmolar), sodium dodecylsulfate (0.1%) and sodium acetate (100 mmolar) for 3-4 hours, increasing the voltage to 400 volts.
Isoelectric point (pI) was determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The cell lysate proteins, prepared as described above, were first separated by isoelectric point using isoelectric focusing in the first dimension, and then the electrofocused proteins were separated according to molecular weight by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in the second dimension. The . ~
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proteins were blotted to nitrocellulose as described in Stott, J.I~mun. Methods, 119, pp. 153-187, (1989). The blotted protein was probed with patient serum and reactive proteins were developed using a standard detection system. The positive serum antigens (which are the 63-67 kD, 40-44 kD and 33-37 kD antigens) were compared to the negative serum antigens (which are common to negative and positive serum: which may include 30-32 kD, 18-22 kD, 47-50 kD and 28-30 kD
antigens). Antigens unique to the positive serum were then noted and the molecular weights and isoelectric ; points calculated.
The molecular weight of each fragment was determined by comparing measured distances (cm) of ; 15 target antigens to the measured distances (cm) of a resolved mixture of standard SDS-PAGE low molecular weight protein markers. Molecular weights were determined and expressed in kilodaltons (kD) using a polynomial curve fit calculated using CricketgraphTM
software (available from Cricket Software, Inc.), and EXCELTM software (available from Microsoft). Both programs were run on a Macintosh 2 computer.
The isolated antigen fra~nents and available data are listed in Table II below. The molecular weight of each fragment is listed as a narrow range because the exact value is difficult to determine using known procedures and a 10% variation is generally ; accepted in the art.
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T A B L E II
Antigen Cell Line MolecularIsoelectric Fragment Source Weight (kD)** Point A RL95-2 63-67 NA*
C1 HEClA 63-67 4.5 2 HEClA 33-37 5.8 3 HEClA 40-44 4.6 4 HEClA 59-64 6.0 1 T47D 63-67 4.5 E3 T47D 40-44 4.6 1 CAOV3 63-67 4.5 2 CAOV3 33~-37 5.5 F3 CAOV3 40-44 4.6 4 CAOV3 59-64 6.0 *NA = not available ** kD = kilodaltons @ values reflect plus or minus 1.0 Example 2: uffere~ ~om~Qsitions of Anti~en~
~; One or more of the antigens were added to tris(hydrox~methyl)aminomethane buffer (pH 8.3) to form a crude buffered composition of this invention. These compositions can be stored in suitable containers, for example in test kits, until their use or immobilization on solid supports for use in assays.
Example 3: Pre~ration of ~ndometElal Antibody - 15 CaptuE~Reaaent ~his is an example of the preparation of an endometrial antibody capture reagent of this invention.
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A mixture of endometrial antigens (E1, E2 and E3) were isolated as described in Example 1 and further treated in the following manner:
The antigen mixture was added to a Waters Protein-Pak DEAE-5PW Anion-Exchange colurnn. An isochratic elution was performed using 5% of Buffer A
consisting of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane HCl (O.1 molar), 15% of Buffer B consisting of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (0.1 molar), and ~0% of distilled deionized water at a flow rate of 1 ml/minute. The initial, unbound fractions were ;collected and pooled, and the protein concentration was determined.
The resulting solution was diluted to 30 ~g protein/ml in phosphate buffered saline solution, and a sample (100 ~l) was added to each well of a polystyrene microtiter plate and incubated at room temperature for two hours. The plate was then washed three times with phosphate buffered saline solution. Remaining binding sites on the plates were blocked with bovine serum alburnin (3%~ in phosphate buffered saline solution for two hours at room temperature. The plate was then washed three times with a solution of TweenTM 2C
nonionic suractant (0.05~) in phosphate buffered saline solution.
Serum samples were diluted at 1:5 or 1:10 in ;a diluent of TweenTM 20 (0.05%) and bovine serum albumin (3%) in phosphate buffered saline solution.
The diluted samples were incubated in the plate wells for two hours at room temperature while being shaken.
The wells were washed three tirne with the wash solution containing TweenTM 20.
Goat anti-human irnmunoglobumin F(ab')2 fragments conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, diluted ~; 35 in the diluent and filtered through a 0.2 micrometer ,, :, -''''"' -'',~
, , , , ,: ~ , ,;, - , ,: ~ , . .,, ;:: i ~, ,, , ; , : , ~ ,., " ,: : , ,, ~: ~ ,' ,,: ' ,,, : ' ., ' 2~62~
filter, were added to the wells and allowed to react for 1 hour at room temperature.
The plate was again washed three times, and a ~ye-providing composition (200 ~l) was added to each well and allowed to react for about five minutes. This composition included 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazole leuco dye (0.2 mmolar) poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (1.25 %), 4'-~ydroxyacetanilide - (5 mmolar), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelator (O.01 mmolar) and hydrogen peroxide (~ mmolar) in sodium phosphate buffer (10 mmolar, pH 6.8).
A solution (100 ~1) to stop dye formation was added and the dye density was evaluated. The resulting dye signal was more than twice that observed for a background signal.
Example 4: ~etection of Endometrial Antibodies in Pat~ent S~ecimens This example demonstrates the use of the isolated endometrial antigens to detect endometrial antibodies present in patient blood sera by immunoblotting techni~ues.
The antigen fragments described in Example 1 ~ere transferred to nitrocellulose strips using optimized immunoblotting techniques as described by Stott, su~a. The buffer for transfer was composed of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane bu~fer (25 mmolar, pH
8.3), glycine (200 mmolar) and methanol (20%, HPLC
grade). To carry out the transfer, 75 volts at 4C
were applied for 2 hours. Upon completion of the transfer, nonspecific protein binding sites were blocked for one hour at 24C with a ~blockinga solution of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (20 mmolar, pH 7.5) containing gelatin (3%), normal goat serum (0.4%) and sodium chloride (500 mmolar). The blocked nitrocellulose was then washed twice, 5 minutes each time, with tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (20 mmolar, ,:
' . . .
:
. . :. , ~ . :
2~2~75 pH 7.5) containing sodium chloride (500 mmolar) and Tween 20 nonionic surfactant (0.05~). The nitrocellulose strips and diluted serum samples (10 ml) were then contacted for incubation for two hours at 24C. The serum had been diluted 100-fold in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (20 mmolar, pH 7.5) containing gelatin (1%), sodium chloride (500 mmolar), and TweenTM 20 nonionic surfactant (0.05~).
Sera believed to contain endometrial antibodies (as determined by indirect immunofluore-scence microscopy) and as being from patients known to have endometriosis (as determined by laparoscopy) were tested. Sera known to be negative for endometrial antibodies using similar techniques were also tested as negative Controls.
After serum incubation, the nitrocellulose strips were washed four times (5 minutes each time) with the buffered solution containing TweenTM 20 noted above (30 ml) to remove uncomplexed materials (such as primary serum antibodies).
The strips were then incubated for two hours at 24C in contact with anti antibodies (13.2 ~l of conjugate in 40 ml of solution used to dilute patient serum) directed to the serum endometrial antibodies bound to the immobilized transferred antigen fragments.
The anti-antibodies were comprised of goat anti-human IgG (heavy and light chain) antibodies labeled with -; alkaline phosphatase for detection. The conjugate was purchased as part of an IMMUN-BLOTTM assay kit (BioRad Laboratories). Upon completion of the antibody-conjugate incubation, the nitrocellulose strips were washed four times (5 minutes each) with the buffered Tween~M 20 solution noted above, and once (5 minutes) with the buffer solution noted above without TweenTM 20 to remove uncomplexed reactants and excess TweenTM 20 nonionic surfactant.
:
:
' :.
.
;, "
, .. .
:- '. ' : , -2~62675 To detect the resulting bands in the strips, a dilute solution of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate and nitroblue tetrazolium [500 ~l of each reagent stock in 50 ml of 0.1 molar tris(hydroxy-methyl)aminomethane buffer, pH 9.5] were added.
Upon completion of sufficient color development of the bands (usually about 20 minutes), the substrate was removed and the strips were washed with deionized, distilled water for 10 minutes to ~uench further color formation. Tables III and IV
below show the results of the sera screen using the assay noted above. The antigens used for obtaining the data in Table III were extracted using phosphate buffered saline solution while Table IV data were obtained using antigens extracted using the buffered sucrose solution described in Example 1 above.
The FIGURE shows the immunoblot bands in strips la, lb, 2a and 2b for the C3 (40-44 kilodalton) and C2 (33-37 kilodalton) fragments (identified in the FIGURE as "42 kD~ and "35 kD", respectively). Bands lc, ld, 2c and 2d are negative controls and do not show bands for the noted fragments.
'' ; ,' ,~, .': ' , , . .
. . .
2~62~
T A B L E III
Normal Patients Endometriosis Patients Antigen (positives/ (positives/
ment(s) total samPlesl total sam~les) Bl 0/2 3/3 Cl 1/8 9/11 T A B L E IV
~ 5 : Normal Patients Endometriosis Patients Antigen (positives/ (positives/
Fragment(s)total sam~es~ _ total samples) ` 2 0/5 5/5 ~i B2 0/4 6/6 ;~- B3 0/4 6/6 Example 5~ ~etection_of EndQmetrial Antibodi~_~ins ~, ~is~osabl~I~st Devic~
This example demonstrates the detection of : 10 endometrial antibodies using a disposable test device : and the ELISA immunological technique.
Materials:
.; Non-purified antigen (containing fragments ,~ Cl, C2 and C3, identified in Table I above) isolated . ~ 15 from HEClA cell line (as described above) was ~':
--. .
~, .
. .
, , , :,, , : ', - , ., :: , .,, . . ;
2~2~7~
covalently attached to particles composed of poly[styrene-~Q-3-(~-vinylbenzylthio)propionic acid]
t97.59:2.41 molar ratio, 1.4 ~m average diameter) ~2.53% solids) to form a particulate capture reagent of this invention.
A particulate negative control reagent was prepared by similarly immobilizing a-casein on the same type of particles (2.05% solids).
The disposable test device used was a SureCellTM test device (Eastman Kodak Company) having a LoProdyne M polyamide microporous (5 ~m) membrane (Pall Corporation) mounted therein. The test device has three test wells, one for the negative control, and two for the specimen. The particulate reagents described above (0.3% final solids) were coated on designated test well membranes in the test device, and dried overnight at room temperature.
The serum diluent composition used was composed of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (100 mmolar, pH 8.0), succinylated casein (1%), Tween 20 (0.05%) and gum arabic (1~) (available from Cetus Corporation). This diluent is similar to that r described in EP-A-0 337 785 (noted above).
The wash solution was comprised of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (10%), NonidetTM p_40 (0.1%), sodium chloride (500 mmolar), TweenTM 20 (0.25%), sodium phosphate, monobasic (50 mmolar, pH 7.4) (available from Cetus Corporation).
The anti-antibodies were goat anti-human IgG
(heavy and light chain) antibodies and were conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (available from Jackson Immunoresearch).
The leuco dye composition comprised 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-imidazole leuco dye (0.23 mmolar) poly(vinylpyr-rolidone) (1.25 %), 4'-hydroxyacetanilide (5 mmolar), , ' ., ;
7 ~
diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid chelator (0.01 mmolar) and hydrogen peroxide (8 mmolar) in sodium phosphate buffer (10 mmolar, pH 6.8).
The dye stop solution comprised sodium azide (0.1%).
As~Y~Procedure:
A patient serum sample (25 ,ul) was diluted by adding it to the serum diluent (2 ml) in standard assay squeeze tubes. Filter tips were attached to the tubes, and the diluted sample was added to each well of the test device to the top of the fill dot. Fluid was allowed to flow through the membranes.
Diluted (1:10,000) labeled anti-antibodies (40 ~l) were added to each test well. Fluid was allowed to drain through the membranes and the test was incubated for one minute. Each test well was then washed twice (250 ~1) with the wash solution.
The dye-providing composition (40 ,ul) was then added to each test well. The fluid was allowed to ~; 20 drain and the test was incubated for 2 minutes. The `- dye stop solution (80 ~l) was then added, followed by fluid drainage.
The visual dye signal was evaluated and scored (0 being lowest dye signal and 10 being the highest). Transmission densities were also measured ~' using standard densitometric procedures. The results are shown in Table V below.
:, ', :, ., :
.~ , :, ., . :
. ; ,,':
~ ;
.: , : :: ~ : ,, ,:
2~2~7 V
_ ~ .
~ U~ .
a) o . :: .
~ o ~ ~
U~
~, ~ ~ ; .
3~
~ ~ v ~ ll ~ o ~_ ~ v3 v ho s~
m ~ s~ O
i v_ ~ v 3L)~~ :
~: t- ~ ~ V V o : ' ~ o ~ o ~/ o u~ ~
~ ~ ~ ll v l~ ~3,_ ~ ~ 3 ~ ~
. v~ o ~ ~ ~ a) ~, ~ ~o ~ o ~ ~ ~ Ç~
~;" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ oO~ ~
v .;
a,l O U~ a E~ ~q ., a~ ~ .
~I v ~Q Ul s~ ,~ a E~ ~ p;
Claims (24)
1. An endometriosis antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
2. The antigen of claim 1 wherein said 63-67 kD fragment is isolated from the RL95-2, AN3CA, HEC1A, T47D or CAOV3 cell line, said 33-37 kD fragment is isolated from the AN3CA, HEC1A, T47D or CAOV3 cell line, said 40-44 fragment is isolated from the AN3CA, HEC1A, T47D or CAOV3 cell line, said 31-35 fragment is isolated from the KLE cell line, and said 59-64 fragment is isolated from the AN3CA, HEC1A or CAOV3 cell line.
3. A buffered antigenic composition useful for detecting the presence of endometrial antibodies, said composition comprising an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from aboaut 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from aboaut 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
4. An endometrial antibody capture reagent comprising an antigen attached to a water insoluble support, said antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
5. The reagent of claim 4 wherein said antigen is the 33-37 kD fragment, the 40-44 kD fragment or a mixture thereof.
6. The reagent of claim 4 wherein said support is a micro-titer plate.
7. The reagent of claim 4 wherein said support is a polymeric particle.
8. The reagent of claim 4 wherein said support is a microporous membrane.
9. A water soluble endometrial antibody reagent comprising an antigen which is detectably labeled, said antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons.
10. The reagent of claim 9 which is labeled with a fluorogen, radioisotope or enzyme.
11. The reagent of claim 10 labeled with an enzyme selected from the group consisting of peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase.
12. A diagnostic test kit comprising:
1) an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons, and 2) an anti-antibody directed to an endometrial antibody.
1) an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons, and 2) an anti-antibody directed to an endometrial antibody.
13. The kit of claim 12 wherein said anti-antibody is labeled with a fluorogen, radioisotope or enzyme.
14. The kit of claim 12 wherein said antigen is attached to a water insoluble support.
15. The kit of claim 12 further comprising a means for detecting the resulting reaction of said antigen with endometrial antibodies.
16. The kit of claim 12 further comprising a disposable test device comprising a microporous membrane.
17. A method for determining endometriosis comprising:
A. contacting a specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons, and B. detecting any resulting complex of said antigen with said endometrial antibodies as a measure of endometriosis in said specimen.
A. contacting a specimen suspected of containing endometrial antibodies with an antigen isolated from epithelial adenocarcinoma cells and selected from the group consisting of:
a. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 63 to about 67 kilodaltons, b. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 33 to about 37 kilodaltons, c. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 40 to about 44 kilodaltons, d. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 31 to about 35 kilodaltons, and e. a fragment having a molecular weight of from about 59 to about 64 kilodaltons, and B. detecting any resulting complex of said antigen with said endometrial antibodies as a measure of endometriosis in said specimen.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said antigen is attached to a water insoluble support, and the resulting complex is thereby insolubilized for detection.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said support is a micro-titer plate.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said support is a polymeric particle.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein said method is carried out by detecting said complex by immunoblot.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein said complex is detected by reaction of said endometrial antibody with a detectably labeled anti-antibody directed to said endometrial antibody.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein said anti-antibody is labeled with a fluorogen, radioisotope or enzyme.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein said specimen is blood serum.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US68217791A | 1991-04-09 | 1991-04-09 | |
| US682,177 | 1991-04-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2062675A1 true CA2062675A1 (en) | 1992-10-10 |
Family
ID=24738559
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002062675A Abandoned CA2062675A1 (en) | 1991-04-09 | 1992-03-11 | Endometrial antigen, composition, test kit and method for endometrial antibody determination |
| CA002081900A Abandoned CA2081900A1 (en) | 1991-04-09 | 1992-04-09 | Endometrial antigen, composition, test kit and method for endometrial antibody determination |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002081900A Abandoned CA2081900A1 (en) | 1991-04-09 | 1992-04-09 | Endometrial antigen, composition, test kit and method for endometrial antibody determination |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0538430A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH05507095A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR930700548A (en) |
| CA (2) | CA2062675A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI925593A (en) |
| IE (1) | IE921132A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992018535A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU6960694A (en) * | 1993-05-28 | 1994-12-20 | Medical University Of South Carolina | Endometrial proteins, antigenic compositions and methods for detecting endometriosis |
| US6376201B2 (en) | 1994-12-28 | 2002-04-23 | Procrea Biosciences Inc. | Use of ligands specific to major histocompatibility complex-class I antigens for diagnosing endometriosis |
| US5618680A (en) * | 1994-12-28 | 1997-04-08 | Institut De Medecine De La Reproduction De Montreal | Use of ligands specific to major histocompatibility complex-class I antigens for diagnosing endometriosis |
| US6677128B1 (en) | 1997-06-26 | 2004-01-13 | Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Method for identification of cellular protein antigens and presence of antibodies to specific cellular protein antigens in serum |
| CA2294514C (en) * | 1997-06-26 | 2009-09-01 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Method for identification of cellular protein antigens and presence of antibodies to specific cellular protein antigens in serum |
| CA2349593A1 (en) * | 1998-11-05 | 2000-05-11 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | S100 proteins and autoantibodies as serum markers for cancer |
| US6743595B1 (en) | 1999-01-25 | 2004-06-01 | Metriogene Biosciences Inc. | Method and diagnostic kit for diagnosis of endometriosis |
| US20060008876A1 (en) | 2004-07-07 | 2006-01-12 | Shami A S E | ME-5, ME-2, and EPP2: human protein antigens reactive with autoantibodies present in the serum of women suffering from endometriosis |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU5068090A (en) * | 1989-03-07 | 1990-09-13 | Adeza Biomedical Corporation | Endometriosis diagnosis methods and reagents |
-
1992
- 1992-03-11 CA CA002062675A patent/CA2062675A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-04-09 CA CA002081900A patent/CA2081900A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-04-09 EP EP92909247A patent/EP0538430A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-04-09 IE IE113292A patent/IE921132A1/en unknown
- 1992-04-09 WO PCT/US1992/002888 patent/WO1992018535A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-04-09 JP JP92508868A patent/JPH05507095A/en active Pending
- 1992-12-09 KR KR1019920703159A patent/KR930700548A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-12-09 FI FI925593A patent/FI925593A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR930700548A (en) | 1993-03-15 |
| JPH05507095A (en) | 1993-10-14 |
| FI925593A0 (en) | 1992-12-09 |
| IE921132A1 (en) | 1992-10-21 |
| EP0538430A1 (en) | 1993-04-28 |
| FI925593A (en) | 1992-12-09 |
| WO1992018535A1 (en) | 1992-10-29 |
| CA2081900A1 (en) | 1992-10-10 |
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