An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Desmosine

Abstract

A sensitive, reproducible and rapid analytical method that is capable of identifying the presence of lung damage at an early stage is required. We have developed a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for desmosine in human body fluids. An amino group of desmosine was exclusively linked to bovine gamma globulin and the high-titer antibody to this conjugate was prepared. This antibody was used in this assay. This method enables the routine analysis of large numbers of samples with a detection limit of 0.4ng desmosine. Using this method, we quantitatively measured desmosine in the urine of 8 normal controls and 25 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The results were expressed as desmosine/creatine ratio. On average, a statistically significant higher level of desmosine/creatinine was found in the patients compared to the controls.