Human Aggrecan (PG) ELISA

Features

• RUO
• calibration range 10-250 ng/ml
• limit of detection 0.9 ng/ml
• assay for the measurement of human aggrecan (PG) in synovial fluid, serum and cell culture supernatant
• lyophilized controls

Research topic

Bone and cartilage metabolism, Extracellular matrix

Summary

Aggrecan (PG) is the predominant proteoglycan species in articular cartilage. It is composed of a core protein of 210 kDa to which over 100 chondroitin sulfate chains, about 20-50 keratan sulfate chains and O-linked as well as N-linked oligosaccharides are covently attached. The core protein contains three distinct globular domains (G1-G3). G1 is at the amino terminus, separated by a short extended segment from G2, while G3 is at the carboxy terminal end. The G1 amino terminal region can interact noncovalently with hyaluronic acid (HA) and has then be termed the hyaluronic acid binding region (HABR). A link protein interact with both the G1 region and the HA to stabilize this interaction. PG is produced by chondrocytes, and its production is regulated by cytokines and growth factors such as IL1β, TNFα, IGF1 or TGFβ. In extracellular matrix, as many as 200 aggrecan molecules can bind to one single HA molecule to form an aggregate (MW: 5.107 to 5.108). An imbalance in the synthesis and degradation of the matrix components is a common feature of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The loss of PG and other matrix components from the cartilage leads to destruction of the tissue, causing complete deterioration of the articular surface. Several recent publications suggest that the PG and PG fragments released in synovial fluid and serum during the degradation process might serve as markers of the metabolic changes in diseased cartilage. Cell culture is a commonly used procedure for the study of cartilage metabolism. The measurement of PG and other matrix components in culture supernatants and cellular contents can assist analysis of the effects of cytokines, growth factors, drugs and potential chondroprotective substances on the cartilage homeostasy. Biovendor has developped a ELISA for the measurement of human aggrecan to aid the study of this important cartilage constituent. The PG-ELISA is convenient, highly specific, and allow accurate measurement of PG in synovial fluid, serum and culture supernatant This assay is a new interesting tool for the exploration of the cartilage metabolism.