NOVEL VITAMIN D3 DERIVATIVES, PROCESSES FOR PREPARATION THEREOF, AND ANTIGENS COMPRISING SAID DERIVATIVES TO BE USED FOR PREPARATION OF ANTIBODIES FOR IMMUNOCHEMICAL ASSAY AND ANTIBODIES PREPARED THEREFROM

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel vitamin D₃ de­ rivatives which have a carboxyl group or its ester group at the 22-position, processes for the preparation thereof, and antigens, which comprise said vitamin D₃ derivative and an immunogenic carrier material, to be used for the prepara­ tion of antibodies for enzymeimmunoassay or radioim­ munoassay and antibodies obtained therefrom. The determination of such activated vitamin D₃ com­ pounds as 25-hydroxy vitamin D₃, 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D₃, etc. can be made satisfactorily according to the present invention.

Description: NOVEL VITAMIN D3 DERIVATIVES; PROCESSES FOR PREPARATION THEREOF; AND ANTIGENS COMPRISING SAID DERIVATIVES TO BE USED FOR PREPARATION OF ANTIBODIES FOR IMMUNOCHEMICAL ASSAY AND ANTIBODIES PREPARED THEREFROM. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to novel vitamin D3 derivatives, processes for the preparation thereof. and antigens comprising said derivatives for the preparation of antibodies for immunochemical assay and antibodies prepared therefrom. Store particularly, the present invention relates to novel vitamin D3 derivatives which have a carboxyl group or its ester group at the 22-position, processes for the preparation thereof, and antigens which comprise said vitamin D3 derivative and an immunogenic carrier material for the preparation of anti bodies for enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay and antibodies obtained by inoculating a host animal with said antigen for an enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay. Description of the Prior Art It has been established that vitamin D3 is metabolized in the kidney or liver into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1&alpha;,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, etc. Such metabolites as 25hydroxyvitamin D3, 1&alpha;,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, etc and such activated vitamin D3 compounds as 1&alpha;-hydroxy- vitamin D3, 1&alpha;,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3, etc. are used clinically as a remedy for osteoporosis, osteomalacia, etc. and their development is now taking place. However, these remedies are clinically administered in very small dosages in general and a single dose is in the range of several hundreds ng to several dozens tig. On the other hand, the pharmacological action of a remedy has the interrelationship with its concentration in the serum or tissue, and the determination of the concentration of the remedy is clinically very important in the case of human beings. As a method for the determination of the concentration of an activated vitamin D3 compound, a radioreceptor assay, wherein la , 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor is used, has hitherto been known (Biochemistry, 13, 4091 (1974)). However, faults are found with this assay in that it demands a slow, laborious process to perform, requires large quantities of serum, and above all obtained results are not always satisfactorily accurate. As for another assays, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.47653/80 discloses a radioimmunoassay wherein la-hydroxyvitamin D3 3-hemisuccinate or Ia , 2 5-dihydroxyvitamin D3 3-hemisuccinate is used as a hapten. Also Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.87344/78 discloses a radioimmunoassay wherein la,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 25-hemisuccinate is used as a hapten. In these radioimmunoassays, antigens for use in the as says are those obtained by bonding a carrier protein to a hapten by means of a carboxyl group in the substftuent group at the 25-position or the 3position of said hapten. It is generally known that the antibody (antihapten antibody) of an antigen for assay use recognizes the chemical structure on the hapten apart from the place of its binding site to the carrier protein. Accordingly, there is a strong probability that those antihapten antibodies obtained by use of such haptens as mentioned in the above cited patent come to have less competency to recognize the structure of the hapten at the 25-position, laposition, or 24-position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Through intensive researches, we have synthesized novel vitamin D3 derivatives which have a carboxyl group or its ester group at the 22-position and found that these vitamin D3 derivatives are very useful as a hapten for an enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay which is preferably adopted for the determination of the concentration of an activated vitamin D3 compound having a hydroxyl group at the la-position, 24-position, or 25-position, thus achieving the present invention. The present invention is concerned with: vitamin D3 derivatives expressed by the following formul (I) EMI3.1 wherein Rl is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group; R2, R3, and R4 independently indicate a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group Processes for the preparation of a vitamin D3 derivative expressed by the abovementioned formula (I), which processes are characterized by subJecting a cholesta-5,7-diene derivative expressed by the following formula ( EMI4.1 wherein R'1 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, or alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a protected carboxyl group or protected amino group; ; R t 2 R'3, and Rt4 independently indicate a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, or protected hydroxyl group; and R5 is a hydrogen atom or protecting group, to the thermal isomerization after ultraviolet irradiation in an inert organic medium, followed by deprotectiony if necessary; antigens, which are prepared by covalently bonding said vitamin Ds derivative expressed by formula (I) through its carboxyl group or amino group to an immunogenic carrier material for the preparation of an antibody for immunochemical assay; ; and antibodies, which are induced by inoculating a host animal with said antigen prepared by covalently bonding the abovementioned vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) through its carboxyl group or amino group to an immunogenic carrier material for immunochemical assay. DESCRIPTION ON THE PREFERRED EMBODINENTS A novel vitamin D3 derivative offered in the present invention is a compound expressed by the aforementioned formula (I) and has a characteristic chemical structure which has a carboxyl group or its ester group at the 22-position. In the aforementioned formula (I), R1 indicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group. As alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, there may be exemplified alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group such as carboxymethyl group, 2-carboxyethyl group, 3-carboxypropyl group, 4-carboxybutyl group, 5-carboxyheptyl group, 6-carboxyhexyl group, etc. and alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having an amino group such as aminomethyl group, 2-aminoethyl group, 3-aminopropyl group, 4-aminobutyl group, 5-aminoheptyl group, 6-aminohexyl group, etc. Of these mentioned above, a hydrogen atom is especially preferable as R1. Also in the aforementioned formula (I), R2, R3, and R4 independently indicate a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group. These vitamin D3 derivatives whose R2 and R3 are both hydroxyl groups are especially preferable as haptens for assaying activated vitamin D3 such as 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Concrete examples of vitamin D3 derivatives expressed by the aforementioned formula (I) include the following: (1) 22-carboxy-24 ,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, (2) 22-carboxy-la,24 ,25-trihydroxycholecalciferol, (3) 22-carboxy-25-hydroxycholecalciferol, (4) 22-carboxy-lag25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, (5) 2 2-carboxy-la , 24-dihydroxycholecalciferol, (6) 22-carboxy-la-hydroxycholecalciferol, (7) 22-(2-carboxyethoxycarbonyl)-24,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol, (8) 22-(2-carboxyethoxycarbonyl)-1&alpha;,24,25-tri- hydroxycholecalciferol, (9) 22-(2-carboxyethoxycarboxyl)-1&alpha; ;,25-dihydroxy- cholecalciferol, (10) 22-(2-carboxyethoxycarbonyl)-25-hydroxy cholecalciferol, (11) 22-(2-carboxyethoxycarbonyl)-1&alpha;-hydroxy- cholecalciferol, (12) 22-(2-aminoethoxycarbonyl)-24,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol, (13) 22-(2-aminoethoxycarbonyl)-la,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol, (14) 22-(2-aminoethoxycarbonyl)-1&alpha;-hydroxychole- calciferol. The abovementioned vitamin 23 derivatives of the present invention are prepared as follows. Their preparation is carried out by subjecting a cholesta5,7-diene derivative expressed by the following formula ( EMI6.1 wherein definitions of R'I, R'S, R'3, R'4, and are the same as those given earlier, to the thermal isomerization after ultraviolet irradiation in an inert organic medium, followed by deprotection, if necessary. The material compound, or said cholesta-5,7 diene derivative expressed by formula (II), can be prepared from its corresponding cholest-5-ene derivative by allylic bromination followed by dehydrobromination. In the abovementioned formula (II), Rtl indicates a hydrogen atom, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, or alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a protected carboxyl group or protected amino group. As alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, there may be exemplified a methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, t-butyl group, heptyl group, hexyl group, etc. As alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, there may be mentioned those given as R1 in the aforementioned formula (I). As alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a protected carboxyl group or protected amino group, the following ones may be exemplified. Those alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group cited as examples of Rl of the aforementioned formula (I), wherein said carboxyl group is a group which forms an ester bond, may be mentioned including, for instance, a methoxycarbonylmethyl group, ethoxycarbonylmethyl group, butoxycarbonylmethyl group, 2-methoxycarbonylethyl group, 2-ethoxycarbonylethyl group, 2-butoxycarbonylethyl group, etc. As alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a protected amino group, those alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having an amino group cited as examples of R1 of the aforementioned formula (I), wherein said amino group is a group which forms an amid bond, may be mentioned including, for instance, an acetylaminomethyl group, 2-acetylaminoethyl group, 4-acetylaminobutyl group, etc. In the aforementioned formula (II), R'29 Ri3, and R independently indicate a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, or protected hydroxyl group and R5 represents a hydrogen atom or protecting group. As protecting groups in the case where R'2, R: :3, and are protected hydroxyl groups or where R5 is a protecting group, there may be mentioned, for instance, aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid residues with 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as an acetyl group, propanoyl group, butanoyl group, pivaloyl group, pentanoyl group, cyclohexanoyl group, chloroacetyl group, bromoacetyl group, benzoyl group, p-bromobenzoyl group, p-nitrobenzoyl group, ethylbenzoyl group, toluyl group, etc. or their nitro-, halogeno-, or alkoxy-substituted derivatives or trialkylsilyl groups such as a trimethylsilyl group, dimethyl-tbutylsilyl group, etc.; or 2-cyclic ether groups such as a 2-tetrahydropyranyl group, 2-tetrahydrofuranyl group, etc. Of these protecting groups, an acetyl group, propanoyl group, butanoyl group, pivaloyl group, pentanoyl group, cyclohexanoyl group and benzoyl group are preferable. These cholesta-5,7-diene derivatives expressed by the aforementioned formula (off) are thermally isomerized after ultraviolet irradiation in an inert organic medium. As ultraviolet rays to be used for ultraviolet irradiation, those having wavelengths of about 200 to 360 nn, preferably those having wavelengths of 260 to 310 nm, are used The ultraviolet irradiation reaction is carried out in an inert organic medium. As inert organic mediums, hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon such as hexane, heptane, benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, and carbontetrachloride; ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane; or alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol are used as desirable ones In the ultraviolet irradiation reaction, reaction temperature has not much significance; however, the reaction is usually carried out at -200C to 1200C, especially in the range of -lO0C to 5O0C. In this reaction, C-C bond cleavage is caused at the 9- and 10-positions of said cholesta-5,7diene derivative to convert it into a previtamin D3 derivative. Thus obtained previtamin Da derivative is then isomerized by thermal energy into a vitamin D3 derivative. This iso;nerization reaction is an equilibrium reaction between the previtamin Da derivative and the vitamin D3 derivative and their equilibrium values differ depending upon the reaction temperature. In the present invention, the isomerization reaction is conducted at 20 to 1200C, preferably at 40 to 1000C. This isomerization reaction can be satisfactorily conducted in the inert organic medium in which said ultraviolet irradiation has been carried out. Therefore, in the case where said ultraviolet irradiation, by which previtamin Da derivative is prepared, is conducted at 400C, for instance, previtamin D3 derivative, which is formed as C-C bond is being cleaved at the 9- and l0-positions of cholesta-5,7-diene derivative, gradually isomerizes into vitamin D a derivative in the same reaction system coincidently. The isomerization reaction by thermal energy proposed in the present invention does not necessarily mean the heating of the reaction system as clearly understood from what mentioned above. Said vitamin D a derivative expressed by formula (I) or its derivative having protected hydroxyl group, protected carboxyl group, or protected amino group is thus prepared. In case the hydroxyl group, carboxyl group or amino group is protected, said isomerization reaction must be followed by the removal of the protecting groups. This deprotection reaction is itself a publicly known reaction and may be carried. out, for instance, when the protecting group forms an acyl group, by treating with an alkaline solution in lower aliphatic alcohol such as methanol and ethanol or with metal hydride such as LiAIH in ether. The reaction temperature may be in the range of -100C to 5QOC. In case the protecting group is bonded to an oxygen atom of a hydroxyl group to form an ether group, it can be easily removed by reductive treatment or by treatment with acid or alkali. The above is the way by which said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) is obtained. In the case where R1 of said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) is an alkyl group wih I to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, the vitamin D3 derivative can also be obtained by the following procedure. It can be prepared by subjecting vitamin D3 derivative expressed by the aforementioned formula (I) in which Rl is a hydrogen atom and hydroxy acid with I to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, ss-hydroxypropionic acid, etc. or an amine compound with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having an amino group such as 2-hydroxyethylamine, 3-hydroxybutylamine, etc. to the esterification reaction. The isolation and the purification of the obtained vitamin B3 derivative is accomplished by column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, recrystallization, etc. Vitamin D3 derivatives expressed by formula (I) offered by the present invention are novel compounds which find no mention in any literature and have a characteristic chemical structure of having a carboxyl group or its ester group at the 22-position. Such vitamin D3 derivatives are very useful as hapten for enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay which is desirable for the determination of activated vitamin D3 compound having a hydroxyl group at the la-,24-, or 25-position. When said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) is used as hapten for enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay, said hapten is covalently bonded to an immunogenic carrier material to form an antigen for the preparation of an antihapten antibody. An antibody prepared from the antigen is offered as one of the reagents which make up the assay kit for enzymei=munoassay or radioimmunoassay. The present invention offers an antigen which is formed by covalently bonding said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) to an immunogenic carrier material through the carboxyl group or amino group of the vitamin D3 derivative for the preparation of an antibody for immunochemical assay, and an antibody which is induced by inoculating a host animal with said antigen for immunochemical assay. As immunogenic carrier materials for obtaining an antigen by covalent bonding to a vitamin D3 derivative, there may be mentioned proteins, poly- peptide, glycoprotein, etc. Examples of suitable proteins include bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), human gamma globulin, methylated bovine serum albumin, rabbit serum albumin, and bovine gamma globulin. As polypeptides, polylysine, poly-L-lysine-polyglutamic acid copolymer, etc. may be cited as examples As examples of glycoproteins, lipopolysaccaride, ficoll, keyholelymphet hemccyanin, etc. may be mentioned. Of them, proteins are prefered and bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin are especially preferred. The covalent coupling of said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) to an immunogenic carrier material is carried out directly or indirectly through a carboxyl group or amino group at the 22position of the vitamin Ba derivative and a functional group of the immunogenic carrier material. As functional groups of the immunogenic carrier material, an amino group of lysine, carboxyl group or amino group of aspartic acid or glutamic acid, phenolic hydroxyl group in a tyrosine residue, and mercapto group of cysteine, for instance, may be mentioned. As methods of covalent bonding, there may be mentioned a method in which N-hydroxysuccinimide or alkylchloroformate is reacted with a carboxyl group or amino group of the vitamin D3 derivative to activate the carboxyl group or amino group of the vitamin D3 derivative, followed by covalent bond formation; a method in which a condensing agent such as l-ethyl-3 (3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carboxyimide hydrochloride, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium- !-sulfonate, etc. is used; or a method in which both of these methods are used in combination. Especially preferable method is one in which an activating agent such as N-hydroxysuccinimide, etc. and a condensing agent such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide are used together. An example of preferred embodiments is one in which a solution of, for instance, 22-carboxy-24,25- dihydroxycholecalciferol, N-hydroxysuccinimide, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in tetrahydrofuran is left standing at room temperature for some dozen hours to form N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 22-carboxy-24,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, which is then reacted with human serum albumin in a buffer solution of phosphoric acid. It is preferable to keep the number of molecules of vitamin 33 derivative to be bonded to an immunogenic carrier material in the range of 5 to 20 against 1 molecule of the immunogenic carrier material, especially preferable to be kept in the range of 5 to 10. Thus obtained antigen for the preparation of an antibody for immunochemical assay is inoculated into a host animal to induce the formation of an antibody. As host animals, warm-blooded animals such as rabbits, rats, cows, sheep, etc. may be mentioned. The inoculation of the antigen into a host animal is practised by extrabuccal administration, for instance, by means of hypodermic or intradermal injection. The inoculation of the antigen is usually conducted with the combined use of Freund's complete adjuvent. The inoculation is conducted by injecting 200 ug of the same antigen hypodermically or intradermally at an interval of four weeks. During the period of inoculation, the antibody concentration of the blood is determined every ten days and the total blood is withdrawn when the highest titer is obtained. The serum separated from thus obtained blood may be used as antigen without any treatment; however, it is preferable to adjust the antibody concentration by obtaining IgG fractions by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation or gel filtration. Since respective antibodies thus obtained can recognize activated vitamin D3 having a hydroxyl group at the la-,24-, or 25-position such as compounds of l-hydroxy vitamin D,, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 Ict, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3, and 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3, thy are useful as antibodies for enzymeimmunoassay or radioimmunoassay. When such antibodies are used for enzyme- immunoassay, they are used together with an enzymelabelled antigen as one of the reagents which make up the assay kit. As enzyme-labelled antigens cited herein, those which can be obtained by covalently coupling said vitamin D3 derivative expressed by formula (I) to such enzymes as ss-D-galactosidasee alkaline phosphatase, glucose oxidase, lipase, peroxidase, etc., preferably such enzymes as S-D-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase may be mentioned. When the antibodies of the present invention are used for radioimmunoassay, they are used together with 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D39 25-hydroxy vitamin D 1&alpha;-hydroxy vitamin D3, and 1&alpha;-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 which are radiolabelled with 3H (tritium) or 14C as one of the reagents which make up the assay kit. Also said antibodies can be used together with 125I-Protein A) which is labelled with 1251 > as reagents for radioimmunoassay which is called Sandwich method. The present invention is illustrated below with reference to the examples: Example 1 (i) Preparation of 22-nethoxycarbonyl-38,24-diacetoxy- cholesta-5,7-dien-25-ol: 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (137.7 mg) was added to a refluxing solution of 22-methoxy carbonyl-3,24-diacetoxycholest-5-en-25-ol (450 mg) in carbon tetrachloride (10 ml), and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes under a nitrogen atmosphere with an infrared lamp irradiation. The mixture was then cooled and filtered. Evaporation of the filtrate gave a crude product. A solution of the crude product in xylene (12 ml) was added dropwise to a refluxing solution of xylene (7.5 ml) and s-collidine (2.5 ml) and the mixture was refluxed for 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was washed with lN-HCl, sat. MaHC03 solution and brine) then dried over Na2S04. The solvent was evaporated off. Purification of the product by preparative TLC on silica gel developed with benzene-ethylacetate gave 22-methoxy-3R,24-diacetoxycholesta-5,7-diene-25-ol (154 mg, 35%). It's physical properties were as follows: UV(#maxEtOH): 293, 28, 271 and 262(sh) nm High resolution mass spectrum, calculated for C31H4605 (M+-AcOH), 498.3345, found 498.3358. (ii) Preparation of 22-methoxycarbonyl-3 34- diacetoxy-25-hydroxyvitamin D3: A solution of 22-methoxycarbonyl-3ss,24diacetoxycholesta-5,7-dien-25-ol (100 mg) in deoxygenated benzene (600 ml) was irradiated with a 200 W Hanovia lamp through a Vycor filter at 5 C for 7.5 minutes while argon was bubbled through the solution. Then the solution was concentrated to about 100 ml under reduced pressure below 300C and the concentrated solution was reflux for 2.5 hours. Evaporation of the solvent gave a crude product. A development of the crude product on a silver nitrateimpregrated silica gel plate with chloroform-methanol as eluent followed by preparative TLC on silica gel with benzene-ethyl acetate as eluent gave 22methoxycarbonyl-3ss,24-diacetoxy-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25.5 mg). It's physical properties were as follows: UV(EtOH, nm): #max, 263 Ce = 15500) Amin, 228 Ce = 8200) MS (n/e): 558 (M ), 498, 281, 253, 158, 118 High resolution mass spectrum, calculated for C33H5007 558.3559, found 558.3660. (iii) Preparation of 22-carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3: A mixture of 22-methoxycarbonyl-3ss,24-diacetoxy- 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (14 mg), 10% KOH-MeOH (2 ml) and tetrahydrofuran (2 ml) was stirred for 2.5 hours at 650C under a nitrogen atmosphere. After the addition of acetic acid 10.25 ml), the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated off. Purification of the product by preparative TLC on silica gel developed with benzeneethyl acetate afforded 22-carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (9.8 mg). It's physical properties were as follows: UV (EtOH; nm): Amax, 263 (e = 15700) Amin, 227.5 (e = 8300) MS (m/e) 442 (N -H20), 424, 406, 136, 118 High resolution mass spectrum, calculated for C28H4202 (M+-H20), 442.3083, found 442.3117. Example 2 Preparation of 22-carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxychole calciferol-HSA conjugate: (i) Preparation of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 22 carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. A mixture of 22-carboxyl-24 ,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1.0 x 10 6 mol), N-hydroxysuccinimide (1.5x10-6 mol), and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC, 1.5x10-6 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (THF, 900 ##) was stirred for 12 hours at 40C in the dark. The resulting dicyclohexylurea precipitate was eliminated by centrifugation (10000 g x 10 min). The supernatant was evaporated off under reduced pressure, and this N-hydroxysuccinimide ester obtained was dissolved in 200 u of THF. (ii) Reaction of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester with HSA. A mixture of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester in THF (200 pQ) and HSA (5 mg) in 0.05 M phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 (500 ##)-pyridine (100 pQ) was stirred at 40C for 12 hours. 200 ## of THF was added to the resulting mixture and then this solution was dialyzed against cold 50% THF/water for 12 hours and further against cold water for 48 hours and lyophilized to give 22carboxyl-24,25- dihydroxycholecalciferol-HSA conjugate. Example 3 Preparation of anti-22-carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol-HSA-antibody: - Rabbits were immunized with the 22-carboxyl24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-HSA conjugate prepared as described in Example 2, (ii), used as an antigen to obtain its antibody as follows: : Two male rabbits (ca. 2 kg) were primed subcutaneously with 100 pQ of antigen solution (22carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-HSA in saline, 200 ug-protein/head) in Freud's Complete Adjuvant (1/1) and boosed subcutaneously with lOO- ## of antigen solution (200 pg-protein/head) in Freund's Complete Adjuvant (1/1) 4,8, and 12 weeks later respectively. 10 weeks after the second booster injection, the rabbits were injected intravenously with 100 pt of antigen solution. An anti-serum usable for radioimmunoassay or enzymeimmunoassay was obtained in this way in about 4 months after the immunization was started. Example 4 Solid phase radioimmunoassay for anti-22-carboxyl 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-HSA antibody with protein A: It was examined according to the procedure described hereunder by use of the undermentioned reagents if the anti-22-carboxyl-24,25-dihydroxy- cholecalciferol antibody prepared as described in Example 3 can recognize vitamin 23. Reagents: 1251-labeled Protein A (8.32 nCi/ng protein), Antigen: succinyl Vitamin D3-BSA, Microtiter plates, ?Ut? bottom, disposable, flexible, nonsterile, Gamma counter, RIA buffer: A buffer: 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 0.1 NaN3 B buffer: 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 1.08 BSA, 0.1% NaN3 C buffer: 0.05 M phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 0.1% Tween 20, 0.1% NaN3 Procedure: (A) The antigen (succinyl Vitamin D3-BSA) is dissolved in A buffer to make a final concentration of approximately 20 pg/ml protein (2 pg/well (max.), 100 ng/well). An antigen alquot (100 pQ) or A buffer is placed in the wells and incubated at 370C for 1 hour. (B) The antigen is aspirated and 0.2 ml of B buffer is added to each well. Each of the wells is incubated at 370C for 1 hour, aspirated and washed three times with cold C buffer and then carefully dried. (C) The antibody (100 ##) is then added to each well and incubated at 40C for 12 hours. The wells are aspirated, washed three times with cold C buffer and dried. (D) A 100 pR aliquot of 250 ngfml solution of125I- labeled Protein A (approximately 25 ng/well) is added to each well. This is incubated at room temperature for 22 to 24 hours. (E) The wells are aspirated, washed three times in cold C buffer, dried, cut with scisors, placed in counting tubes, and counted in a y-counter. It was confirmed that 125I-protein A was coupled to vitamin D3-antibody conjugate and that the anti-22-carboxy-24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-HSAantibody could therefore recognize vitamin D3 from the fact that the count obtained from the determination made with a y-counter corresponded to the prescribed count. (ii) A calibration curve was drawn for the radioimmunoassay range with 125I-protein A according to the following procedure with the use of the reagents mentioned in the preceding (i) and la,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 as compound specimen. Procedure: (A) The antigen (succinyl Vitamin D-BSA) is dissolved in A buffer. An antigen aliquot (100 pi) or A buffer is placed in the wells and incubated at 370C for 1 hour. (B) The antigen is aspirated and 0.2 ml of B buffer is added to each well. Each well is incubated at 370C for 1 hour, aspirated, washed three times with cold C buffer, again with A buffer, and then carefully dried. (C) The antibody solution/A buffer (100 pi) and 10 p± of 1 ,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 solution are added to each well and incubated at 4 C for 12 hours. (The anti-serum dilutions of 1:1600 - 1:9600 usually fall in the range of the standard curve.) The wells are aspirated, washed three times with C buffer, again with A buffer, and then dried. (D) A 100 pQ of 250 ng/ml solution of 125I-Protein A (approximately 25 ng/well) is added to each well. This is incubated at room temperature for 22 to 24 hours. (E) The wells are aspirated, washed three times in cold C buffer, dried, cut with scisors, placed in different counting tubes and counted in a y-counter. A calibration curve was drawn by determining the respective rations (125I-radioactivity (B/Bo %) of y-counts between the two kinds of solutions, one without addition of la,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and the other with addition of lo,2S-dihydroxy vitamin D3, following the above procedure with the concentration 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 changed variously. It was made clear from this calibration curve that the determination of 1 ,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the range of 10 f to 1 p (mol/well) was made possible satisfactorily by use of the antibody diluted 9600 times and the antigen diluted 1013 times.

Claims: WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vitamin D3 derivative expressed by the following formula (I) EMI21.1 wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with I to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group; R2, R3, and R4 independently indicate a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group. 2. A vitamin D3 derivative according to Claim 1, wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom in the abovementioned formula ( 3. A vitamin D3 derivative according to Claim 1, wherein both R2 and R3 are hydroxyl group in said formula ( 4. A process for the preparation of a vitamin D3 derivative expressed by the following formula (1) EMI22.1 wherein the definitions of R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same as defined above, which process is characterized by subjecting a cholesta-5,7-diene derivative expressed by the following formula (II) EMI22.2 wherein R'1 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a carboxyl group or amino group, or alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms having a protected carboxyl group or protected amino group; ; R?2, R1 3 and R'4 independently indicate a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, or protected hydroxyl group, and R5 is a hydrogen atom or protecting group; to the thermal isomerization after ultraviolet irradiation in an inert organic medium, followed by deprotection, if necessary. 5. A process for the preparation according to Claim 4, wherein R'1 is an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the aforementioned formula (II). 6. A process for the preparation according to Claim 4, wherein R'2, Rt3, and R t 4 are protected hydroxyl groups and R5 is a protecting group in the aforementioned formula (II). 7. An antigen, which is prepared by covalently bonding a vitamin 23 derivative expressed by the following formula (I) EMI23.1 wherein the definitions of R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same as defined above, through its carboxyl group or amino group to an immunogenic carrier material for the preparation of an antibody for immunochemical assay. 8. An antigen according to Claim 7, wherein the immunogenic carrier¯material is a protein. 9. An antigen according to Claim 7, wherein the immunogenic carrier material is bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human serum albumin (ffSA). 10. An antigen according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom in the aforementioned formula (I). 11. An antibody, which is induced by inoculating a host animal with said antigen prepared by covalently bonding the vitamin D3 derivative expressed by the following formula (I) EMI24.1 wherein the definitions of R1, R2, R., and R4 are the same as defined above, through its carboxyl group or amino group to an immunogenic carrier material, to be used for inmunochemical assay. 12. An antibody according to Claim 11, wherein the immunogenic carrier material is a protein. 13. An antibody according to Claim 11, wherein the immunogenic carrier material is bovine serum albumin (BSA) or human serum albumin (ESA). 14. An antibody according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom in the aforementioned formula (I) 15. An antibody according to any one of Claims 11 to 14, wherein the host animal is a rabbit.

Inventors: ISHIMARU, KENJI, NISHIKAWA, OSAMU, OSHIDA, JUN-ICHI, TAKESHITA, TORU, TSURUTA, HIDEKI, YAMAMOTO, ITARU
Applicants: TEIJIN LIMITED
Application year: 1982
Main classification: C07C172
IPC codes: C07J9, G01N33