WO2004043238A2 - Biomarkers for intra-amniotic inflammation - Google Patents
Biomarkers for intra-amniotic inflammation Download PDFInfo
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- WO2004043238A2 WO2004043238A2 PCT/US2003/036120 US0336120W WO2004043238A2 WO 2004043238 A2 WO2004043238 A2 WO 2004043238A2 US 0336120 W US0336120 W US 0336120W WO 2004043238 A2 WO2004043238 A2 WO 2004043238A2
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- 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
- G01N33/68—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids
- G01N33/689—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids related to pregnancy or the gonads
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2333/00—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature
- G01N2333/435—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans
- G01N2333/46—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans from vertebrates
- G01N2333/47—Assays involving proteins of known structure or function as defined in the subgroups
- G01N2333/4701—Details
- G01N2333/4721—Cationic antimicrobial peptides, e.g. defensins
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2333/00—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature
- G01N2333/435—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans
- G01N2333/46—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans from vertebrates
- G01N2333/47—Assays involving proteins of known structure or function as defined in the subgroups
- G01N2333/4701—Details
- G01N2333/4727—Calcium binding proteins, e.g. calmodulin
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- 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
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- 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
- G01N2800/368—Pregnancy complicated by disease or abnormalities of pregnancy, e.g. preeclampsia, preterm labour
Definitions
- Premature birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Every year approximately 4.5 million premature babies are born worldwide, and, despite considerable advances in neonatal care, their mortality rate remains high. Moreover, survivors are at risk for long- term handicap, including developmental delay cerebral palsy, blindness deafness, and chronic lung disease.
- the societal burden of prematurity is underscored by the fact that, in the USA, the average cost per survivor with a birth weight of 900 grams or less (approximately 27 weeks) will exceed their medical and other supportive care expenses.
- the prevention of prematurity is the most important challenge to obstetrics and perinatal medicine. Its limited success has been attributed, in part, to the fact that premature parturition is a syndrome caused by multiple pathological processes such as infection, vascular disease, uterine over- distension, and chronic stress.
- Intrauterine infection has emerged as a common and important cause of preterm delivery, as at least a third of all preterm births occur to mothers with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. Intrauterine infection often results in fetal infection with the development of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome, a risk factor for the impending onset of labor, short-term neonatal complications, and long- term handicaps, such as cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease.
- the present invention provides a diagnostic assay and kit for detecting the presence of at least one biomarker indicative of intra-amniotic inflammation in a sample of amniotic fluid, comprising (A) mixing an adsorbent that binds at least one biomarker associated with intra-amniotic inflammation with a sample of amniotic fluid and then (B) monitoring the mixture for binding between said biomarker and the adsorbent, wherei ⁇ the assay or kit detects at least one biomarker that is a calgranulin, particularly calgranulin A or calgranulin C.
- the adsorbent is an antibody immobilized on a solid substrate.
- the assay or kit using an antibody may be an ELISA in which an enzyme-antibody conjugate used to detect biomarker immobilized on the solid substrate.
- the adsorbent is immobilized on a probe and the biomarker is detected by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
- the adsorbent preferably is a hydrophobic adsorbent, more particularly a Ciphergen H4 probe or H50 probe.
- the assays and kits 8 additionally tests for the presence of at least one defensin in said sample of amniotic fluid.
- the defensin may be HNP-1 alpha-defensin 1 or HNP-2 (alpha-defensin 2).
- the invention provides a method for qualifying the risk of preterm delivery in a pregnant patient, comprised of analyzing a sample of amniotic fluid from the patient for a level of at least one calgranulin.
- the method additionally comprises anaylzing the sample for the level of at least one defensin.
- the calgranulin is calgranulin A or calgranulin C and the defensin is HNP-1 (alpha-defensin 1 ) or HNP-2 (alpha-defensin 2).
- the invention further provides a method for qualifying the risk of preterm delivery in a pregnant patient, comprising (A) providing a spectrum generated by subjecting a sample of amniotic fluid from the patient to mass spectroscopic analysis that includes profiling on a biologically- or chemically-derivatized affinity surface, and (B) putting the spectrum through pattern-recognition analysis that is keyed to at least one peak indicative of the presence of a calgranulin in the sample.
- the pattern-recognition analysis additionally is keyed to at least one peak indicative of a defensin.
- the pattern- recognition analysis is keyed to at least one of calgranulin A or calgranulin C and at least one of HNP-1 (alpha-defensin 1) or HNP-2 (alpha-defensin 2).
- the preferred affinity surface is a Ciphergen H4 probe or H50 probe. The method is particularly useful in identifying the risk of preterm delivery in patients which do not have a white blood cell count that is elevated out of the normal range.
- Figure 1 is a flow chart of the distribution of patients used for "learning" Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption and lonization (SELDI) profiles in amniotic fluid.
- SELDI Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption and lonization
- Figure 2 presents representative protein mass-spectral profiles of "diseased,” “non-diseased,” and T-CRL patients who were studied during the learning phase.
- the discriminatory peaks composing the M (P1 -P 13) and MR score (circled peaks) are shown within the three molecular weight areas of interest: 3300-3500 dalton (Da) under the CHCA-LL experimental protocol (a); 3500-3800 Da under CHCA-HL protocol (b) and 10-14 kDa under the SPA protocol (c).
- Figure 4 presents data that identify peaks P1 , P2, and P3 as neutrophil defensins (HNP-1 -3) (a) and peaks P7 and P8 as calgranulins (b), based by on-chip antibody capture assays.
- Antibody-specific peaks are distinguished at the same mass with profiling tracings (H4), on spots where the antibody has been pre -adsorbed (Ab) but not on the spots pre- treated with IgG.
- the amniotic fluid samples were from representative "diseased” and "nondiseased” patients. Samples also were loaded onto Tricine gels and either stained with Coomasie blue (b) or processed for Western blotting, using the same antibody as was used for antibody capture: anti-HNP (insert at a) or Mac 387(c).
- Figure 5 presents a quantitative analysis of the peaks composing the MR score (log of normalized peak intensity) in the cohort of preterm patients (n - 77), grouped by the presence or absence of intra- amniotic inflammation (+WBC: WBC > 100/mm 3 ) or microbiologically proven infection ( + AFC: positive amniotic fluid culture results).
- the lines represent the means of the groups.
- Figure 6 depicts a quantitative analysis of a mixture of equal amounts of recombinant HNP-1 and HNP-2 on H4 spots, (a) SELDI profiles obtained after application of 1 ⁇ g (above) or 2 ng (below) of HNP 1-2 mixture (b) Log normalized peak intensity of the SELDI tracings versus the amount of HNP-1 -2 mixture spotted.
- Biomarkers have been discovered, each associated with intra-amniotic inflammation.
- a “biomarker” is an organic biomolecule, particularly a polypeptide or protein, which is differentially present in a sample taken from a subject having intra- amniotic inflammation as compared to a comparable sample taken from a "normal" subject that does not have intra-amniotic inflammation.
- a biomarker is differentially present in samples from a normal patient and a patient having intra-amniotic inflammation, respectively, if it is present at an elevated level or a decreased level in latter samples as compared to samples of normal patients.
- the biomarkers of the invention are capable of identifying intra-amniotic inflammation.
- a single biomarker or combination of biomarkers (“biomarker profile”) can be employed, in accordance with the invention, provided that at least one of the biomarkers is a calgranulin, preferably calgranulin A or C.
- the biomarkers and biomarker profiles of the invention can be used to qualify the risk of preterm delivery in a patient.
- the present invention provides a rapid and reliable proteomic approach to identifying intra-amniotic inflammation which can lead to preterm delivery.
- This is the first proteomic characterization of amniotic fluid in premature labor, and detailed analyses of the biomarkers, permits characterization and quantitative validation of the changes involved.
- the concentrations of the biomarkers correlate with the magnitude of the biological phenomena of interest, namely, intra- amniotic inflammation and preterm delivery.
- the amniotic fluid contains neutrophils, which are for the most part of fetal and not of maternal origin, and the concentrations of inflammatory mediators in this fluid predict the likelihood of impending preterm delivery and adverse neonatal outcome better than maternal blood.
- the biomarkers of the present invention are primarily defensins and calgranulins.
- Defensins are proteins of the innate immune system.
- the three principle human neutrophil defensins, HNP 1 -3 belong to the family of unique to neutrophils and account for 99 per cent of the defensin content in these cells.
- HNP-1 , -2 and -3 belong to the family of cationic, trifsulfide-containing microbicidal peptides. Their production and release is induced by cytokines and microbial products such as lipopolysaccharide, a component of the cell wall of Gram negative bacteria.
- Calgranulins are members of the S100 group of proteins, which are calcium-binding proteins that contain two canonical EF-hand structural motifs. They have received increasing attention due to their possible involvement in diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, cardiomyopathy, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory disorders. S100 A8 (calgranulin A) and S100 A9 (calgranulin B) can combine to form homodimers and heterodimers, which also have antimicrobial properties.
- biomarkers such as calgranulin C, which has not been previously studied in preterm parturition or intra-amniotic infection.
- the present invention comprehends the proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid, to obtain semi-quantitative information that correlates with the magnitude of the inflammatory phenomenon, as determined by the intensity of intrauterine inflammation (i.e., correlation with white blood cell counts) and the clinical outcome (i.e., relationship between duration of pregnancy and MR score, described below).
- the present invention encompasses a means for predicting preterm delivery, based on an analysis of patterns of particular defensins and calgranulins.
- a biomarker profile identified in accordance with this invention reliably indicates the presence or absence of inflammation, which is of major importance because, as noted above, intra-amniotic inflammation is a risk factor for preterm delivery, short-term complications of prematurity, and long-term squealae such as cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease.
- proteomic analysis is combined with molecular microbiological techniques to detect microorganisms that are responsible for detected inflammation, thereby to inform selection of an antimicrobial therapy. That is, a proteomic analysis according to the invention can identify a patient as suffering intra-amniotic inflammation, and samples of amniotic fluid from the patient determined can be tested, in conventional manner, to identify pathogenic microorganisms responsible to the inflammation. Thus, the test data can help determine an antibiotic regimen that is likely to be effective against the identified microorganisms.
- Proteomic analysis of amniotic fluid provides a rapid, simple and reliable means of identifying the patient in premature labor with intra-amniotic inflammation, who are at risk for impending preterm delivery.
- this cohort of patients may be selected to test specific interventions to eradicate infection and/or to modulate the inflammatory response associated with adverse outcome.
- biomarkers according to the present invention were identified by comparing mass spectra of samples derived from amniotic fluid from two groups of pregnant subjects, subjects with intra-amniotic inflammation and normal subjects. The subjects were diagnosed according to standard clinical criteria.
- the detection of biomarkers for diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation entails contacting a sample of amniotic fluid from a patient with a substrate, having an adsorbent thereon, under conditions that allow binding between the biomarker and the adsorbent, and then detecting the biomarker bound to the adsorbent by gas phase ion spectrometry, for example, mass spectrometry.
- gas phase ion spectrometry for example, mass spectrometry.
- Other detection paradigms that can be employed to this end include optical methods, electrochemical methods (voltametry and amperometry techniques), atomic force microscopy, and radio frequency methods, e.g., multipolar resonance spectroscopy.
- Illustrative of optical methods in addition to microscopy, both confocal and non-confocal, are detection of fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, reflectance, transmittance, and birefringence or refractive index (e.g., surface plasmon resonance, ellipsometry, a resonant mirror method, a grating coupler waveguide method or interf erometry) .
- Immunoassays in various formats, such as ELISA likewise can be adapted for detection of biomarkers captured on a solid phase, in accordance with the present invention (see below).
- a preferred mass spectrometric technique for use in the invention is Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption and lonization (SELDI), as described, for example, in U.S. patents No. 5,719,060 and No. 6,225,047, both to Hutchens and Yip, in which the surface of a probe that presents the analyte (here, one or more of the biomarkers) to the energy source plays an active role in desorption/ionization of analyte molecules.
- SELDI Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption and lonization
- probe refers to a device adapted to engage a probe interface and to present an analyte to ionizing energy for ionization and introduction into a gas phase ion spectrometer, such as a mass spectrometer.
- a probe typically includes a solid substrate, either flexible or rigid, that has a sample-presenting surface, on which an analyte is presented to the source of ionizing energy.
- SELDI Surface-Enhanced Affinity Capture
- SELDI probe A “chemically selective surface” is one to which is bound either the adsorbent, also called a “binding moiety” or “capture reagent,” or a reactive moiety that is capable of binding a capture reagent, e.g., through a reaction forming a covalent or coordinate covalent bond.
- reactive moiety here denotes a chemical moiety that is capable of binding a capture reagent.
- Epoxide and carbodiimidizole are useful reactive moieties to covalently bind polypeptide capture reagents such as antibodies or cellular receptors.
- Nitriloacetic acid and iminodiacetic acid are useful reactive moieties that function as chelating agents to bind metal ions that interact non- covalently with histidine containing peptides.
- a “reactive surface” is a surface to which a reactive moiety is bound.
- An “adsorbent” or “capture reagent” can be any material capable of binding a biomarker of the invention. Suitable adsorbents for use in SELDI, according to the invention, are described in U.S. patent No. 6,225,047, supra.
- Chromatographic adsorbent is a material typically used in chromatography.
- Chromatographic adsorbents include, for example, ion exchange materials, metal chelators, immobilized metal chelates, hydrophobic interaction adsorbents, hydrophilic interaction adsorbents, dyes, mixed mode adsorbents (e.g., hydrophobic attraction/electrostatic repulsion adsorbents).
- Biospecific adsorbent is another category, for adsorbents that contain a biomolecule, e.g., a nucleotide, a nucleic acid molecule, an amino acid, a polypeptide, a simple sugar, a polysaccharide, a fatty acid, a lipid, a steroid or a conjugate of these (e.g., a glycoprotein, a lipoprotein, a glycolipid).
- the biospecific adsorbent can be a macromolecular structure such as a multiprotein complex, a biological membrane or a virus.
- Illustrative biospecific adsorbents are antibodies, receptor proteins, and nucleic acids.
- a biospecific adsorbent typically has higher specificity for a target analyte than a chromatographic adsorbent.
- SELDI Surface-Enhanced Neat Desorption
- SEND probe energy absorbing molecules that are chemically bound to the probe surface
- the EAM category includes molecules used in MALDI , frequently referred to as "matrix,” and is exemplified by cinnamic acid derivatives, sinapinic acid (SPA), cyano-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (CHCA) and dihydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, and hydroxyaceto-phenone derivatives.
- the category also includes EAMs used in SELDI, as enumerated, for example, by U.S. 5,719,060 and U.S. 60/351 ,971 , filed January 25, 2002.
- SELDI Surface-Enhanced Photolabile Attachment and Release
- SEPAR Surface-Enhanced Photolabile Attachment and Release
- wash solution refers to an agent, typically a solution, which is used to affect or modify adsorption of an analyte to an adsorbent surface and/or to remove unbound materials from the surface.
- the elution characteristics of a wash solution can depend, for example, on pH, ionic strength, hydrophobicity, degree of chaotropism, detergent strength, and temperature.
- a sample is analyzed by means of a "biochip," a term that denotes a solid substrate, having a generally planar surface, to which a capture reagent (adsorbent) is attached.
- the surface of a biochip comprises a plurality of addressable locations, each of which has the capture reagent bound there.
- a biochip can be adapted to engage a probe interface and, hence, function as a probe, which can be inserted into a gas phase ion spectrometer, preferably a mass spectrometer.
- a biochip of the invention can be mounted onto another substrate to form a probe that can be inserted into the spectrometer.
- biochips A variety of biochips is available for the capture of biomarkers, in accordance with the present invention, from commercial sources such as Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, CA), Packard BioScience Company (Meriden CT), Zyomyx (Hayward, CA), and Phylos (Lexington, MA). Exemplary of these biochips are those described in U.S. patents No. 6,225,047, supra, and No. 6,329,209 (Wagner et al.), and in PCT publications WO 99/51773 (Kuimelis and Wagner) and WO 00/56934 (Englert et al.).
- biochips produced by Ciphergen Biosystems have surfaces, presented on an aluminum substrate in strip form, to which are attached, at addressable locations, chromatographic or biospecific adsorbents.
- the surface of the strip is coated with silicon dioxide.
- Ciphergen ProteinChip * arrays are biochips H4, SAX-2, WCX-2, and IMAC-3, which include a functionalized, cross- linked polymer in the form of a hydrogel, physically attached to the surface of the biochip or covalently attached through a silane to the surface of the biochip.
- the H4 biochip has isopropyl functionalities for hydrophobic binding.
- the SAX-2 biochip has quaternary ammonium functionalities for anion exchange.
- the WCX-2 biochip has carboxylate functionalities for cation exchange.
- the IMAC-3 biochip has nitriloacetic acid functionalities that adsorb transition metal ions, such as Cu + + and Ni ++ , by chelation. These immobilized metal ions, in turn, allow for adsorption of biomarkers by coordinate bonding.
- a substrate with an adsorbent is contacted with the sample, containing amniotic fluid, for a period of time sufficient to allow biomarker that may be present to bind to the adsorbent. After the incubation period, the substrate is washed to remove unbound material. Any suitable washing solutions can be used; preferably, aqueous solutions are employed.
- an energy absorbing molecule then is applied to the substrate with the bound biomarkers.
- an energy absorbing molecule is a molecule that absorbs energy from an energy source in a gas phase ion spectrometer, thereby assisting in desorption of biomarkers from the substrate.
- Exemplary energy absorbing molecules include, as noted above, cinnamic acid derivatives, sinapinic acid and dihydroxybenzoic acid. Preferably sinapinic acid is used.
- the biomarkers bound to the substrates are detected in a gas phase ion spectrometer.
- the biomarkers are ionized by an ionization source such as a laser, the generated ions are collected by an ion optic assembly, and then a mass analyzer disperses and analyzes the passing ions.
- the detector then translates information of the detected ions into mass-to-charge ratios. Detection of a biomarker typically will involve detection of signal intensity. Thus, both the quantity and mass of the biomarker can be determined.
- Data generated by desorption and detection of markers can be analyzed with the use of a programmable digital computer.
- the computer program analyzes the data to indicate the number of markers detected, and optionally the strength of the signal and the determined molecular mass for each biomarker detected.
- Data analysis can include steps of determining signal strength of a biomarker and removing data deviating from a predetermined statistical distribution. For example, the observed peaks can be normalized, by calculating the height of each peak relative to some reference.
- the reference can be background noise generated by the instrument and chemicals such as the energy absorbing molecule which is set as zero in the scale.
- the computer can transform the resulting data into various formats for display.
- the standard spectrum can be displayed, but in one useful format only the peak height and mass information are retained from the spectrum view, yielding a cleaner image and enabling biomarkers with nearly identical molecular weights to be more easily seen.
- two or more spectra are compared, conveniently highlighting unique biomarkers and biomarkers that are up- or down- regulated between samples. Using any of these formats, one can readily determine whether a particular biomarker is present in a sample.
- Software used to analyze the data can include code that applies an algorithm to the analysis of the signal to determine whether the signal represents a peak in a signal that corresponds to a biomarker according to the present invention.
- the software also can subject the data regarding observed biomarker peaks to classification tree or ANN analysis, to determine whether a biomarker peak or combination of biomarker peaks is present that indicates a diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation.
- kits for aiding in the diagnosis of intra-amniotic inflammation which kits are used to detect biomarkers according to the invention.
- the kits screen for the presence of biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers that are differentially present in samples from subjects with intra-amniotic inflammation.
- the kit comprises a substrate having an adsorbent thereon, wherein the adsorbent is suitable for binding a biomarker according to the invention, and a washing solution or instructions for making a washing solution, in which the combination of the adsorbent and the washing solution allows detection of the biomarker using gas phase ion spectrometry.
- the kit comprises a immobilized metal affinity capture chip, such as the H4 chip.
- a kit of the invention may include a first substrate, comprising an adsorbent thereon, and a second substrate onto which the first substrate is positioned to form a probe, which can be inserted into a gas phase ion spectrometer.
- an inventive kit may comprise a single substrate that can be inserted into the spectrometer.
- such a kit can comprise instructions for suitable operational parameters in the form of a label or separate insert.
- the instructions may inform a consumer how to collect the sample or how to wash the probe.
- the biomarkers according to the invention also are useful in the production of other diagnostic assays for detecting the presence of the biomarker in a sample.
- such assays may comprise, as the "adsorbent,” “binding moiety,” or “capture reagent,” an antibody to one or more of the biomarkers, with the proviso that at least one of the biomarkers is a calgranulin.
- the antibody is mixed with a sample suspected of containing the biomarkers and monitored for biomarker- antibody binding.
- the biomarker antibody is labelled with a radioactive or enzyme label.
- the biomarker antibody is immobilized on a solid matrix such that the biomarker antibody is accessible to biomarker in the sample. The sample then is brought into contact with the surface of the matrix, and the surface is monitored for biomarker-antibody binding.
- the biomarker can be detected in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in which biomarker antibody is bound to a solid phase and an enzyme-antibody conjugate is used to detect and/or quantify biomarker present in a sample.
- ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- a western blot assay can be used in which solubilized and separated biomarker is bound to nitrocellulose paper.
- the biomarker is detected by an enzyme or label-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin (Ig), such as horseradish peroxidase-lg conjugate by incubating the filter paper in the presence of a precipitable or detectable substrate.
- Ig enzyme or label-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin
- Western blot assays have the advantage of not requiring purity greater than 50% for the desired biomarker(s). Descriptions of ELISA and western blot techniques are found in Chapters 10 and 1 1 of Ausubel et al. (eds.), CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (John Wiley and Sons, 1988).
- Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis performed for the assessment of the microbiological status of amniotic cavity and/or fetal lung maturity. Samples from patients at term were obtained at the time of elective caesarian section. Preterm labor was defined as the presence of uterine contractions (at least 3 in 10 min.) or advanced cervical dilatation at less than 37 weeks of gestation.
- Table I Patient chart data and amniotic fluid analysis of preterm patients used for "learning" SELDI profiles
- WBC (cells/mm 3 : median (range]) 10 [0-80] 180D[335-1S20O] 520(200-14800] 23 (3-90] 3 (0-62 ⁇
- Diluted amniotic fluid from each patient was assigned to duplicate chips and on each chip two spots were covered with 2 ⁇ l of PBS alone.
- the matrix consisted of either 1 ⁇ l of a 20% saturated solution of ⁇ -cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), on one set of chips or two sequential applications of 0.5 ⁇ l saturated solution of sinnapinic acid (SPA) on the other.
- CHCA ⁇ -cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid
- SPA sinnapinic acid
- the chips were allowed to air-dry and then were read in a Protein Biology System ® II (PBS II) SELDI-TOF mass spectrometer (Ciphergen Biosystems), using the ProteinChip ® software, versions 2.1 b and 3.
- CHCA-LL laser intensity 220, mass ranging from 0 to 20,000 Da, optimized between 1000 and 10,000 with detector sensitivity 6, mass focus 3300 Da, 20 shots fired and averaged for every 5-th position from starting from position 20 to 80
- CHCA-H high-laser intensity spot protocol
- the chip covered with SPA was analyzed with a single spot protocol (SPA: laser intensity 285, mass ranging from 0 to 200,000 Da, optimized between 20,000-90,000 Da with mass focus at 26,500 Da, detector sensitivity 10, and 20 shots fired and averaged for every 5-th position from position 20 to 80).
- SPA laser intensity 285, mass ranging from 0 to 200,000 Da, optimized between 20,000-90,000 Da with mass focus at 26,500 Da, detector sensitivity 10, and 20 shots fired and averaged for every 5-th position from position 20 to 80).
- the PBS II instrument was calibrated externally against four molecular weight peptide standards: arg-8-vasopressin, bovine insulin ⁇ chain, human insulin, and hirudin.
- Low molecular weight markers (Ultralow Color marker, product of Sigma, St Louis, MO) or a mixture of mass spectrometry molecular weight standards (0.5 nmols of bovine cytochrome C and 0.5 nmols of bovine ubiquitin, Ciphergen Biosystems) were loaded on gels along with the amniotic fluid samples.
- filters were blocked with 5% milk and then incubated with either mouse Mac 387 monoclonal antibody for calgranulins (1 :1000 dilution; Labvision, Fremont, CA) or rabbit polyclonal anti HNP-1 -3 (1 :1000 dilution, rabbit anti-human HNP-1 -3; Abeam, Cambridge, UK) for 1 h at 25 °C.
- Detection was performed using appropriate horseradish peroxidase-linked secondary antibody and ECL-kit (Amersham Biosystems).
- a 5 ⁇ l sample (diluted progressively in binding buffer from 1 :10 to 1 :80 for calgranulin or 1 :500 to 1 :64,000 for HNP capture) was incubated on the pre-treated spots. After one hour, the spots were vigorously washed, first with binding buffer and then with 10mM HEPES, were allowed to air-dry, were covered with appropriate matrix solution, and then were read in the PBS II system.
- ELISA Concentrations of HNP-1 -3 in amniotic fluid were measured with a commercially available enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (HyCult Biotechnologies, Uden, The Netherlands) with a sensitivity of 19.5 pg/mL. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were ⁇ 2%.
- Infection was defined as a positive amniotic fluid culture for microorganisms whereas intra -amniotic inflammation was defined as an amniotic fluid WBC count > 100 cells/mm 3 .
- the "non- diseased" group constituted of patients with premature labour with intact membranes who subsequently delivered a term neonate without complications (preterm control group: PT-CRL). Patients at term at the time of amniotic fluid retrieval represented an additional control group (term control group: T-CRL).
- T-CRL additional control group
- the distribution of patients according to clinical presentation (preterm parturition or term gestation), preterm delivery ( ⁇ 37 weeks), amniotic fluid cultures and amniotic fluid WBC count is illustrated in Figure 1.
- the clinical characteristics of the subgroups are displayed in Table I.
- the extreme "diseased" and "non- diseased” groups are in the first two columns.
- Preliminary data mining consisted of visual inspection of the SELDI protein profile tracings followed by evaluation with the "biomarker wizard tool” at a 0.3% mass accuracy and biomarker statistics. This analysis suggested that informative peaks were clustered within three m/z (ratio mass/charge) areas. These areas of interest were between 3300-3600 Da in the CHCA-LL spectra, 3600-5000 Da in the CHCA-HL spectra and 10,000-14,000 Da with SPA ( Figure 2). Conspicuous peaks in these zones were selected manually and the spectra from each patient verified for accuracy of peak identification. The m/z value, normalized intensity and signal to noise ratio (S/N) for the selected peaks were extracted.
- S/N signal to noise ratio
- the other patient presented at 27 weeks of gestation had 375 WBC/mm 3 and delivered at 30 weeks of gestation during a second admission for abdominal trauma. There were 4 women with WBC ⁇ 100/mm 3 who had MR scores of 3 or 4 (false positive for inflammation). All presented with preterm PROM at 30-33 weeks of gestation, delivered within 3 days and in all Ureaplasma urealyticum or Mycoplasma hominis were isolated from the amniotic fluid.
- One patient was admitted at 33 weeks of gestation with preterm PROM and delivered within two days after labor induction.
- the amniotic fluid culture was positive for Streptococcus agalactiae, the neonate weighed 2160 grams, had Apgar scores of 9/9 and no complications.
- the second patient was admitted at 29 weeks of gestation with preterm labour and intact membranes, had a positive amniotic fluid culture for Streptococcus viridans, and delivered after 34 days at 34 weeks of gestation.
- the neonate was 2260 grams and had no complications. Neither one of these two patients had histological evidence of chorioamnionitis. There were two patients with MR scores of 2 also representing apparent false negative results.
- Control patients were with the diagnosis of preterm labor and intact membranes, before 33 weeks, had no elevated WBC in amniotic fluid, negative cultures and delivered at term.
- the selection criteria were chosen to test the profile in patients with either clearly defined disease or absence of disease as in premature labour and in contrast to other conditions (e.g., cancer) no real "gold standard" for disease is available to classify patients at the time of amniotic fluid analysis.
- Samples were randomly coded and two other investigators performed the SELDI experiments as described and independently analyzed and scored the spectra.
- P2 and P1 might be the neutrophil defensins 1 and 2 (HNP-1 and -2, respectively), based upon the distinctive peaks of these antimicrobial peptides previously detected by SELDI-TOF in crevicular fluid from patients with periodontitis.
- P1 and P2 correspond to neutrophif defensins, we proceeded with an on-chip immunoassay, using a polyclonal antibody, that does not distinguish between the three HNP peptides as each differ just by one amino acid.
- Figure 4a illustrates that the P1 , P2 and P3 peaks present in profiling spectra (on H4 spots) also are detected on the spots pre- coated with the anti-HNP-1 -3 antibody but not the IgG coated spots.
- the presence of the peptides was confirmed in samples from "diseased" patients at the appropriate mass on Comassie stained gels ( Figure 4b) and by western blotting ( Figure 4a - insert).
- Circled peaks are components of the MR score; PI: isoelectric point; R. peak: reference peak
- HNP-1 -3 are peptides with antimicrobial activity involved in innate immunity and are present in high amounts in azurophilic granules of activated neutrophils. Accordingly, we reasoned that the intensity of the HNP peaks (P1 and P2) should reflect the degree of neutrophil activation in the amniotic cavity, and since these cells are thought to be of foetal origin the extent of fetal inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we first investigated our ability by SELDI to quantitate mixtures of recombinant HNP-1 and -2 peptides reliably.
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US10/534,694 US20060127962A1 (en) | 2002-11-14 | 2003-11-13 | Biomarkers for intro-amniotic inflammation |
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US7972802B2 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2011-07-05 | University Of Washington | Lipoprotein-associated markers for cardiovascular disease |
US8068990B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2011-11-29 | Hologic, Inc. | Diagnosis of intra-uterine infection by proteomic analysis of cervical-vaginal fluids |
EP2467716A1 (en) * | 2009-08-20 | 2012-06-27 | University of Utah Research Foundation | Identification and quantification of biomarkers for evaluating the risk of preterm birth |
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US8068990B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2011-11-29 | Hologic, Inc. | Diagnosis of intra-uterine infection by proteomic analysis of cervical-vaginal fluids |
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CN102822669B (en) * | 2009-08-20 | 2015-02-25 | 犹他州大学研究基金会 | Identification and quantification of biomarkers for evaluating the risk of preterm birth |
CN108136051A (en) * | 2015-08-04 | 2018-06-08 | Cd诊断股份有限公司 | The method for detecting bad local organization reaction (ALTR) necrosis |
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US20060127962A1 (en) | 2006-06-15 |
WO2004045379A2 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
AU2003290775A8 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
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US20040241775A1 (en) | 2004-12-02 |
WO2004045379A3 (en) | 2004-07-29 |
EP1578205A2 (en) | 2005-09-28 |
AU2003290984A1 (en) | 2004-06-15 |
EP1578205A4 (en) | 2008-01-02 |
AU2003290775A1 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
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