Auranofin, a member of a class of compounds with disease modifying activity, was given to arthritic rats to determine if it could reverse the abnormal plasma concentrations of fibronectin (Fn), C reactive protein (CRP), and albumin, which were unaffected by treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When auranofin was orally administered for two weeks to adjuvant induced art...

Protein-C inhibitor (PCI) is a newly described plasma inhibitor directed against a vitamin-K-dependent serine protease, activated protein-C, which is involved in the inactivation of factor V and factor VIII. Marlar and Griffin have reported that PCI activity is absent in the plasma of patients with congenital combined factor V/VIII deficiency. We have measured the levels of PCI in the plasma of...

We studied the heterogeneity of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in plasma of 110 subjects, using three different methods: (a) gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE); (b) electroimmunoassay, to measure the concentration of lipoprotein particles containing apoprotein (apo) AI but no apo-AII (LP AI); and (c) cholesterol esterification rate (FERHDL) in very-low- and low-density lipoprotein-depleted pla...

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI, or procarboxypeptidase B) is the precursor of a recently described carboxypeptidase that potently attenuates fibrinolysis. Therefore, we hypothesized that elevated plasma TAFI levels induce a hypofibrinolytic state associated with an increased risk for venous thrombosis. To evaluate this hypothesis, we developed an electroimmunoassay for TAFI a...

Measurement of Protein S in human plasma is clinically important because of deficiency of this protein, which functions as a cofactor of the naturally occurring anticoagulant activated Protein C, is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism. We describe a two-site, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring Protein S in which a monoclonal IgG directed against the calcium-independent...

The protein composition of human intestinal lavage fluids was analysed by electroimmunoassay. In addition to secretory immunoglobulin A and other components that were antigenically related to serum proteins, a number of gut-specific proteins were detected. One of these was found to exhibit the capacity of binding sodium deoxycholate and cholesterol. After isolation of this cholesterol-binding p...

A chromatofocusing column method for isolating ApoB is described. LDL is first isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation and delipidated with n-butanol/diisopropyl ether. Chromatofocusing of ApoLDL yielded a large ApoB peak at pI 5.0-5.3. ApoA-I and ApoC-II were prepared analogously, with HDL and VLDL as the source of apoprotein. Antisera were raised in rabbits, and electroimmunoassay techniqu...

BACKGROUND Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the most common inherited metabolic disorder with the potential to cause injury in the lung and liver. Recent reports suggested that alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (A1AC) deficiency may also be a possible cause of chronic liver disease. However, it has received little attention and is rarely investigated in the clinical setting. AIMS To assess the...

The importance of a circulating a-2-globulin as a determinant of hepatic Kupffer cell phagocytosis of nonbacterial particulate matter has been well documented. This protein which manifests opsonic activity exerts a humoral control on hepatic reticuloendothelial phagocytic activity and deficiency of its serum level exists with advanced malignant diseases or acutely following traumatic injury. Th...

During a 4-year routine screening programme for cystic fibrosis (CF) 15 464 specimens were examined for raised meconium albumin levels by a test strip method and by electroimmunoassay. The incidence of false-positive results was about 5 per 1000 specimens in either test. This could be reduced by 90% by determining the ratio of albumin : alpha-1-trypsin inhibitor (a ratio below 2.0 being conside...