REUSABLE ASSAY FOR MULTISITE ANTIGENS

Abstract: Assay for multisite antigens, in particular, hTSH wherein a sample containing the antigen is contacted with radiolabeled binder for the antigen to provide a mixture of free radiolabeled binder and radiolabeled binder complexed with the antigen. The free and bound radiolabeled antibody are separated by contact with a binder for the antigen complexed with the radiolabeled binder, and at least one of the bound and free radiolabeled antibody is counted. The complex may be eluted from the binder by an eluting liquid buffered to a pH of no greater than 3.0.

Description: REUSABLE ASSAY FOR MULTISITE ANTIGENS This invention relates to an assay for ligands, and more particularly to an assay for antigens having multiple binding sites. An assay for antigens having multiple binding sites is known in the art; e.g., the so-called two-site IRMA (immunoradiometric assay), which involve insolubilization of the antigen by reaction with solid-phase antibody, followed by contact with radio labeled antibody to provide both labeled antibody complexed with the antigen, and remaining free or uncomplexed labeled antibody. The amount of labeled material which has been complexed is a measure of the amount of antigen which was present. The so-called two-site IRMA has been employed for the assay of hTSH. The present invention is directed to an improvement in an assay for multisite antigens, and has particular applicability to an assay for hTSH. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assay for an antigen having multiple binding sites wherein a sample containing or suspected of containing the antigen is contacted with a labeled binder therefor to provide a mixture containing free labeled binder and a complex of labeled binder bound to the antigen. The mixture is then contacted with a supported binder (unlabeled) for binding the antigen complexed with the labeled antibody to thereby separate the bound or complexed labeled binder from unbound or free labeled binder. The amount of at least one of the bound and free labeled binder is determined as a measure of the amount of antigen in the sample. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reagent kit for use in an assay for an antigen having multiple binding sites, which includes a labeled binder for the antigen, and a binder for the antigen complexed with the labeled binder, which is supported on a solid support. The kit may further include buffers, standards and the like. In accordance with a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reusable assay wherein the supported binder is treated with an elating liquid to elute the complex of antigen and labeled binder therefrom, and thereby permit reuse of the supported binder in an assay. In accordance with the preferred aspect of the invention, the reagent kit for the assay would further include such eluting agent. In accordance with a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the assay and kit are directed to an assay for hTSH, The antigens which are assayed in accordance with the present invention are those which have multiple binding sites, with such antigens generally being characterized by having a higher molecular eight. Thus, for example such antigens are generally either polypeptides; in particular, hormones, or polypeptide proteins. As representative examples of such antigens, there may be mentioned hTsH (human thyroid stimulating hormones); HCG; insulin; CEA,ferritin, hepatitis associated antigens A and B, alpha-fetoprotein, growth hormone and the like The binder employed as both the labeled binder and the supported binder is generally an antibody, and in some cases, ma be a naturally occurring binder which can be isolated in a form specific for the antigen to be assayed. As known in the art, such antibodies are produced by introducing the antigen inte a vertebrate. The binder employed as the labeled binder, and the binder supported on the solid support for separating the labeled binder-antigen complex, as hereinabove noted, are both preferably antibodies Such antibodies may be raised in the same species of animals; for example, rabbit; however, it is preferred to have the respective antibodies used as the labeled antibody, and as the supported antibody raised in different animals of such species to thereby ensure binding of different. sites on the antigen by the labeled antibody and supported antibody, respectivel; The labeled antibody is preferably labeled with a suitable radiolsotope, as known in the art. As representative examples of such radioisotopes, there may be mentioned radioisotopes of iodine, tritium, cobalt and the like, with radio-. 125 iodine; and in particular I, being preferred It is to be understood, however, that the use of other radioisotopes is within the spirlt--and scope of the invention. Similarly, it is also possible to label the antibody with other than a radioisotope; e.g., enzyme. labeling, fluorescent labeling, etc. In regard to the supported antibody, such antibody may be supported on any one of a wide variety of solid materials. As known in the art, such materials include suitable polymers, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, lDol) o?\.lenc! poiytetratluo- roethylene, polyamides, polyacrylamides, crosslinked agarose, dextran, etc. , glass, bacterial cells; ion exchange resins; cotton, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,200, 625 and supports of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 4,059,685, etc. The selection of a suitable support is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. As known in the art, such antibody may be supported on the solid support by either adsorption, or by covalent coupling. In performing the assay, the sample containing or suspected of containing'the antigen is incubated with the labeled antibody, with such labeled antibody being employed in an amount which is in excess of the amount required to saturate all of the antigen binding sites for such labeled antibody; however, notwithstanding such excess, the labeled antibody does not saturate all of the binding sites of the antigen. The incubation is generally effected at temperatures in the order of from 15 to 400C, and for a time sufficient to accomplish the binding. The resulting mixture will contain free labeled antibody, and labeled antibody bound to the antigen, as an immune complex. After the incubation, the mixture is contacted with the supported antibody, to accomplish binding of the antigenlabeled antibody complex to the supported antibody through the remaining antigen binding sites. The free or uncoupled labeled antibody is not bound by the supported antibody, and as a result, there is a separation of the free labeled antibody from the labeled antibody bound to the antigen. The amount of bound or complexed labeled antibody increases in proportion to the amount of antigen present in the sample, and as a result, the amount of antigen present in the sample can be determined by determining the amount of bound and/or free labeled antibody, and comparing same to a standard curve, by procedures known in the art. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the complex of antigen labeled antibody, bound to the supported antibody, is eluted therefrom to thereby permit reuse of the supported antibody. In this respect, such elution is accomplished by the use of a suitable eluting liquid, which elutes the complex from the supported antibody, without destroying the binding ability of such supported antibody. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the eluting liquid is one which is at an acidic pH, which is no greater than 3.0, and at which the binding ability of the binder is not destroyed; i.e., the eluting liquid is not made too acidic. In general, the eluting liquid is at a pH of no less than 1.5, and preferably no less than 2.0. In particular, such eluting liquid is water buffered to a pH as hereinabove described. The acidic pH may be obtained by the use of any one of a wide'variety'of acidic buffers. As representative examples of suitable.buffers, there may be mentioned: citrates, acetates, glycinates, glutamates, oxalates, tartrates, phosphates, hydrogen chloride, etc. or mixtures thereof. The selection of a suitable buffer is deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. The buffer is employed in a concentration which provides the desired eluting, without destroying the binding ability of the binder. In some cases, the eluting ability is enhanced by increasing the salt concentration (ionic strength) of the solution. Such increases in salt concentration may be effected by increasing the concentration of the buffer or by the addition of a water soluble salt which does not adversely affect the binder. As representative examples of such salts, there may be mentioned: water soluble salts of an alkali metal or ammonium, such as halides; sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, carhonates, bicarbonates, etc.; or water soluble transition metal salts, such as a nitrate, halide, etc. or the like. As hereinabove noted, the total salt concentration, including buffer, is one which provides the desired eluting without destroying the binder, and in general, the salt concentration does not exceed 4, and in most cases does not exceed 2M. In general, the salt concentration is at least 0.01M, when such salt is employed. Although the present invention is applicable to an assay, which does not provide for regeneration of the supported binder, the invention has particular applicability to such assay wherein the supported binder is regenerated, and is particularly suitable for use in an automated assay. In such an automated assay, the supported binder is provided in a flow through chamber, with the automated apparatus being, for example, of a type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,009,005. In such an assay, the sample containing or suspected of containing the antigen is incubated with the labeled antibody, and the resulting mixture is caused to flow through a chamber containing the supported binder to separate the labeled antibody bound to the antigen, from the free labeled antibody. The amount of bound and/or free labeled antibody is determined, followed by passage of an eluting liquid through the chamber to elute the antigen-labeled antibody complex from the supported antibody, whereby the chamber may be reused in an assay. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the antibody is labeled with a gamma emitting radioisotope and the outlet from the chamber is connected to a gamma detector, with the free labeled antibody being initially washed through the chamber and counted, followed by elution of the complex and counting of the bound labeled antibody in the detector. The percent of the total radioactivity in the bound fraction is then directly proportional to the concentration of the antigen in the standard or sample. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a suitable reagent kit or package for accomplishing such reusable assay, which includes as principal components: (a) a labeled binder for the antigen having multiple binding sites, which binder is preferably an antibody, with such antibody preferably being labeled with a radioisotope; in particular, radioiodine; (b) a binder for the antigen-labeled binder complex, which binder is supported on a solid support, with the binder preferably being an antibody and preferably being supported in a flow through chamber; and (c) an eluting liquid capable of eluting the labeled binder-antigen complex from the supported binder, with the eluting liquid generally being an aqueous eluting liquid of the type hereinabove described. Such components, where applicable are included in the reagent kit or package in separate containers; e.g., vials. The reagent kit or package may also include other components such as standards of the antigen to be assayed; i.e., antigen samples having known concentrations of the antigen to be assayed; buffers, wash liquids, etc. As hereinabove noted, the present invention has particular applicability to a radioassay for hTSH, wherein the sample containing or suspected of containing the hTSIl, is mixed with a limited amount of 125Iodine labeled antibody to hTSH followed by incubation thereof. The concentration of the 125Iodine labeled antibody to hTSH is sufficient to convert the hTSH to a radioactive complex, and provide a free fraction of such labeled antibody; however, the labeled antibody does not completely saturate all of the binding sites of the hTSH to thereby permit subsequent binding thereof to the supported antibody. The incubated mixture then flows through the solid support to bind the complex, and the free or unbound labeled antibody is washed therethrough into a gamma counter for counting, followed by elution of the complex, and counting of the bound antibody. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the chamber includes antibody supported on cross-linked agarose (SEPHAROSE) activated with cyanogen bromide. The invention will be further described with respect to the following examples; however, the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby: E XANPLE The following reagents in appropriate containers, such as vials,are employed for a reusable assay for hTSH in accordance with the invention: REAGENTS 1. hTSH antibody chamber, containing hTSH antibody covalently bound to cyanogen bromide activated crosslinked agarose. 2. hTSH prefilter, containing filtering material. 3. hTSH standards, as follows: hTSH CONCENTRATION STANDARD IN uIU/ml Zero O A 2.5 B 5 C 10 D 25 E 50 F 100 4. Adsorption buffer aqueous solution containing TRIS, bovine serum albumin, sodium chloride ahd preservative, pH. 8.0 + 0.1. 5. Elution buffer aqueous glycinate buffer containing pre servative, pH 2.0 + 0.1. 6. Rinse solution of stabilized distilled water. 7. 1251-hTSH antibody, contains 410 uCi on date of calibration. The reagents may be employed in automated apparatus, as described, for example in U.S. Patent No. 4,009,005, with such apparatus being available from Becton Dickinson Immunodiagnostics, Automated Immunochemistry Systems. Such equipment is identified by the Trademark ARIA II. In employing such assay, the standard or serum hTSH sample is incubated with I-hTSH antibody, for example, at 20-250C for two hours,'and the mixture is caused to flow through the antibody chamber, with the free labeled antibody being rinsed from the chamber by the rinse solution and counted in a gamma counter. The complex is then eluted from the antibody chamber by use of the elution buffer, with the eluted material flowing to the gamma counter for counting thereof. Absorption buffer is then passed through the chamber to remove eluting buffer, whereby the chamber can be reused in the assay. Using the above procedure for hTSH, the intra-assay reproducibility for human serum had a coefficient of variation in the order of 6-7% for samples in the normal range. Samples in the hypothyroid range also have a coefficient of variation in the order of 6-7%. Such values indicate that the assay is suitable for clinical determinations. Although the invention has been particularly described with respect to an assay for hTSH, the teachings of the invention are also applicable to other antigens having multiple binding sites. Similarly, although the invention has been particularly described with respect to a reusable assay, it is to be understood that the teachings are also applicable to assays in which the supported binder is not regenerated for subsequent use thereof. The assay for hTSH may be employed to determine elevated serum hTSH concentration, which result from primary hypothyroidism. There is an indication that elevation in serum hTSH levels nay be the first measurable change that occurs when thyroid secretion declines. The present invention is particularly advantageous in that it permits for effective determination of antigens having multiple binding sites. In addition, by use of the present invention, it is possible to accomplish such assay with regeneration of supported binder. Moreover, it is also possible to effect automation of such assay. These and other advantages of the invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art from teachings herein. Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as particularly described.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A process for the assay of an antigen having multiple binding sites, comprising: contacting a sample containing said antigen with a labeled binder for said antigen to provide a mixture containing free labeled binder and a complex of labeled binder bound to said antigen: contacting the mixture with a supported binder for the complex 6f labeled binder bound to the antigen to thereby bind said complex te said supported binder and separate bound labeled binder from free labeled. binder; and determining the amount of at least one of the bound and free labeled binder. 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the labeled binder is radiolabel ed. 3. A process acccrding to claim 1 or 2, wherein the labeled binder and the supported binder are each antibodies. 4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the antigen is a polypeptide or protein. 5. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the labeled antibody is employed in an amount in excess of that required to bind all of the antigen binding sites for the labeled antibody, with said antigen having remaining binding sites. 6. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the complex is eluted from the supported binder by an aqueous eluting liquid buffered to a pH of no greater than 3.0 and no less than 1.5 to permit reuse of the supported binder. 7. A process according to claim 6, wherein the eluting liquid is buffered to a pH of no greater than 2.0. 8. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the supported binder is in a flow-through chamber, with the mixture and then the eluting liquid flowing through the flow-through chamber. 9. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the antigen is h-rSH. 90. A reagent kit for the assay of an antigen having multiple binding sites, comprising: a labeled binder for said antigen; and a binder for a complex of the labeled binder and said antigen supported on a solid support. 11. A reagent kit according to claim 10, wherein the kit further includes an aqueous eluting liquid for eluting a complex of antigen and labeled binder from the supported binder, said aqueous eluting liquid being buffered to a pH of no greater than 3.0 and no less than 1.5. 12. A reagent kit according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the labeled binder and supported binder are each antibodies. 13. A reagent kit according to any of claims 10, 11 or 12, wherein the labeled binder is radiolabeled. 14. A reagent kit according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the kit is for the assay of hTSH. 15. A reagent kit according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the supported binder is in a flow-through chamber. 16. A reagent} kit according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the labeled binder is labeled with 125I. 17. A reagent kit according to any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the supported binder is supported on cyanogen bromide-activated crosslinked agarose.

Inventors: FERRO, ARI M., KRAUTH, GARY H., SMITH, RICHARD S.
Applicants: BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G01N33
IPC codes: G01N33