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Quantification of free alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-macroglobulin-protease complexes by a novel ELISA system
C W Justus1, H P Müller, M M Simon
1MPG Klinische Forschungsgruppe für Blutgerinnung und Thrombose, Giessen, F.R.G.
Abstract:
An ELISA test system has been developed for the quantification of the two distinct forms of the proteinase inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M): (i) free alpha 2M (functionally active), which is the electrophoretically slow form (alpha 2 MS), and (ii) the alpha 2 M-proteinase complex (functionally inactive), which is the electrophoretically fast form of alpha 2 M (alpha 2 MF). Discrimination between the two types of alpha 2 M was achieved using extracts of the two independent streptococcal strains, M1 and Sc1, which express receptors for alpha 2 MS and alpha 2 MF, respectively, in combination with a monoclonal antibody specific for alpha 2 M. The assay system described is easy and reliable and permits quantitation of alpha 2 MS and alpha 2 MF in complex biological samples such as plasma and cutaneous suction blister fluid.