Quantitative two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for inhibin A, activin A and activin B

Abstract

We have developed three specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) formats which quantitate inhibin A in conditioned media and serum. The assays are sensitive in a range 0.078-5.0 ng/ml and have been characterized in terms of cross-reactivity to inhibin related proteins. The CK:CK assay format recognizes inhibin A, inhibin B and inhibin-related molecules, while the 9A9:CK assay format recognizes inhibin A and inhibin A precursors, but not free alpha-subunit. The 11B5:CK assay appears to recognize only mature 32 kDa inhibin A. Additionally, we have developed separate, specific ELISA formats which quantitate activin A and activin B. The assays have a range of 0.2-50 ng/ml and 0.4-50 ng/ml for activin A and recombinant activin B, respectively. These assays are presently being used to examine the concentration of inhibin A, activin A and activin B in clinical serum samples.