Determination of an immunosuppressive substance in serum by latex particle electrophoresis

Abstract

The level of immunosuppressive substance (IS), which increases in the serum of patients with cancer, was determined by an assay based on particle electrophoresis. Polystyrene latex particles (PLP) were coated with IS, which was extracted from the ascitic fluid of patients with cancer. The IS was a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 52 000, and an isoelectric point in the range pH 2.7–3.3. When the IS on the surface of the PLP reacted with the anti-IS antibody, the mean electrophoretic mobility of the PLP changed from −3.16 to + 0.21 μm·s −1·V −1·cm in the medium of pH 7.2 and ionic strength I = 0.0154. After preincubation of anti-IS antiserum and tested serum, the PLP coated with IS were added to this solution. It was incubated again and then the surface charge of the PLP was measured by an automatic cell-electrophoretic instrument. This method was used to determine the IS concentration in the serum of cancer patients and pregnant women. When compared to healthy controls, the serum IS level was significantly higher in patients with cancer, and lower in pregnant women. The assay based on latex-particle electrophoresis proved to be a sensitive and rapid method for determining the IS level in serum.