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Published on: March 15, 2016
Transforming growth factor-alpha activity in effusions: comparison of radioimmunoassay and radioreceptorassay
Y Kamiya1, E Ohmura, H Murakami
1Department of Internal Medicine 3 Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
Insights
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) was detected in most effusions using radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay. Malignant effusions showed higher TGF-alpha levels by RRA, suggesting EGF-like substances in cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is a polypeptide growth factor.
- TGF-alpha plays a role in cell growth and differentiation.
- Its presence in bodily effusions, particularly in cancer patients, warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify TGF-alpha levels in pleural and peritoneal effusions.
- To differentiate between cancer and non-cancer patients based on TGF-alpha concentration.
- To investigate the nature of TGF-alpha and related substances in effusions.
Main Methods:
- Homologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) and radioreceptor assay (RRA) were employed.
- Human placental membrane was used as the receptor source.
- Effusions from 24 cancer patients and 17 non-cancer patients were analyzed.
- Bio-Gel P-60 chromatography was used to characterize TGF-alpha activity.
Main Results:
- TGF-alpha was detected in most effusions by both RIA and RRA.
- No immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) was detected.
- Chromatographic analysis revealed discrepancies between RIA and RRA, suggesting EGF-like substances.
- Malignant effusions had significantly higher TGF-alpha concentrations by RRA compared to benign effusions (p < 0.02).
- RIA measurements did not show a significant difference between malignant and benign effusions.
Conclusions:
- TGF-alpha is present in pleural and peritoneal effusions.
- RRA indicates elevated TGF-alpha in malignant effusions, potentially due to EGF-like substances.
- RIA and RRA discrepancies highlight the complexity of growth factor detection in effusions.
Abstract:
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in pleural and peritoneal effusions was assayed by homologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) and radioreceptor assay (RRA) using human placental membrane. Effusions were obtained from 24 patients with and 17 patients without cancer. Most of the effusions were found to contain TGF-alpha by RIA and RRA, but immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) was not detected. Effusions were chromatographed on Bio-Gel P-60 with several peaks of TGF-alpha activity by both RIA and RRA. A discrepancy in the chromatographic pattern of TGF-alpha between RIA and RRa suggested the existence of EGF-like substances capable of binding to EGF receptors which lack immunoreactivity for EGF or TGF-alpha. The TGF-alpha concentration of the acetic acid-extracted malignant effusions assayed by RRA significantly exceeded the value obtained from benign effusions (17.0 +/- 8.7 vs. 9.2 +/- 6.3 ng/ml; mean +/- SD: p < 0.02). However, the concentrations obtained by RIA did not differ.
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