Characterization of antibodies against oestrone-azo-protein conjugates using 3H and 125I radioligands

This report describes the synthesis of six oestrone-azo-protein immunogens differing in the position of the azo group in the steroid skeleton and in the nature of carrier protein. By nitration of oestrone, 2-nitro- and 4-nitro-isomers were prepared and converted to amino-derivatives by reduction of the nitro group. The diazotized amino-oestrones were coupled to albumin, thyreoglobulin and haemocyanin. The immunogens thus prepared were administered to rabbits to assess the effect of position of the bridge, carrier protein and adjuvant on antibody production and specificity. Very weak immune responses were obtained with both types of albumin immunogen. The presence of the azo group at C-2 position led to a lower antibody production as compared with C-4 derivatives. The relatively high antibody production was achieved by immunization with oestrone-4-azo-thyreoglobulin or oestrone-4-azo-haemocyanin, with the oil component of adjuvant omitted. The antibodies combined with tritiated and iodinated radioligands yielded typical curves showing the sensitivity of 10-20 pg for 3H labelled oestrone and that of 3-10 pg for 125I labelled oestrone. The specificity of the 6 antibodies was tested using 25 related structures. In all these cases there was low cross-reaction with oestradiol, oestriol and their derivatives. On the other hand, the discriminating ability of the antibodies with regard to the opposite end of the molecule, i.e. with regard to the A-ring and partly the B-ring was very low. This makes it possible to use these antibodies for the radioimmunoassay of oestrone alone or some of its metabolites modified in the A-ring. The results of cross reactivity are generalized to the effect that in the oestrone-azo-hapten structure the antigenic determinant area can be ascribed to the size not exceeding 2-3 steroid rings.