An enzyme immunoassay for polymorphonuclear leucocyte-mediated fibrinogenolysis

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 148 - 156
• Main Authors: BOS, R., VAN LEUVEN, C. J. M., STOLK, J., HIEMSTRA, P. S., RONDAY, H. K., NIEUWENHUIZEN, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford BSL Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.1997; Blackwell
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - chemistry; Antibodies, Monoclonal - isolation & purification; Antibodies, Monoclonal - metabolism; Antibody Specificity; Biological and medical sciences; Elastase; enzyme immunoassay; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - statistics & numerical data; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - chemistry; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - immunology; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - metabolism; fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - chemistry; Fibrinogen - immunology; Fibrinogen - metabolism; Fibrinolysis - immunology; Fibrinolysis - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Leukocyte Elastase - metabolism; Medical sciences; monoclonal antibody; Neutrophils - metabolism; Neutrophils - physiology; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; polymorphonuclear leucocytes; pulmonary emphysema; rheumatoid arthritis; Serine Endopeptidases - metabolism; Human; Immunopathology; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Leukocyte; Cell nucleus; Lung; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Autoimmune disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Enzyme immunoassay; In vitro; In vivo; Chronic; Immunological investigation; Rheumatoid arthritis; Fibrinogen; Enzymatic digestion; Emphysema; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.810634.x

Upon stimulation, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) release potent serine proteases, i.e. elastase, cathepsin G and proteinase 3, which contribute to the degradation of tissue and plasma components. Here, we describe the development of a plasma test to assess PMN‐mediated fibrinogenolysis as a biochemical marker for actual PMN‐derived proteolysis in vivo, useful for monitoring therapeutic efficacy, i.e. of elastase inhibitors. We generated a monoclonal antibody (MAb), designated 1‐1/B3, with a high affinity for elastase‐degraded fibrinogen (EDF). The epitope for 1‐1/B3 becomes exposed in a time‐dependent manner during digestion of fibrinogen with purified PMN‐derived serine proteases and with isolated PMNs in vitro. However, 1‐1/B3 does not react with plasma fibrinogen or with fibrin(ogen) degradation products generated by plasmin or by other active proteases that may occur locally, i.e. metalloproteases and lysosomal cathepsins. On the basis of MAb 1‐1/B3, we developed a plasma test for the assessment of PMN‐mediated fibrin(ogen) degradation products (PMN‐FDP). In a panel of control plasmas, we observed concentrations of PMN‐FDP of 8.2 ± 0.9 ng mL−1 (n = 18). These values were increased twofold in patients with α1‐proteinase inhibitor deficiency (18.6 ± 3.3 ng mL−1; n = 12; P < 0.0001) and even more in patients with sepsis (365.7 ± 97.7 ng mL−1; n = 16; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, synovial tissue extracts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis contained increased levels of PMN‐FDP, compared with synovial tissue extracts (P < 0.005) from patients with osteoarthritis.