[Bioactivity and heterogeneity of human growth hormone in urine from acromegalic patients]

Bioactivity of hGH in urine from five acromegalic patients was determined by Nb2 rat lymphoma bioassay (Nb2BA) and IM-9 receptor modulation assay (RMA). One urine sample (case 1) was concentrated by dialysis and lyophilization. Bioactivity by IM-9 RMA showed close correlations with immunoactivity by RIA in serial dilutions (RMA/RIA; 0.66-1.77). The estimates of bioactivity by Nb2BA were higher in all diluted samples except undiluted one than those of immunoactivity. Four samples were concentrated by affinity chromatography, dialysis and lyophilization. The ratio of RMA and RIA estimates was between 0.81-1.24, and that of Nb2BA and RIA estimates was between 0.46-2.62. Heterogeneity of urinary hGH was analyzed by gelfiltration using TSK-G-3000SW column by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and by sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay. In addition to the main peak of 22K molecular weight (more than 97%), very small peaks of 40-60K (big hGH) and 150K (big-big hGH) were detected in chromatographic profile. Urinary hGH from acromegalic patients was bioactive in IM-9 RMA and Nb2BA. The predominant form of urinary hGH from acromegalic patients was little hGH, but big and big-big hGH were detected by sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay.