title: Antibodies to macrophage stimulating protein (MSP): specificity, epitope interactions, and immunoassay of MSP in human serum.
abstract: Macrophage stimulating protein (MSP) is a member of a family of proteins characterized by a triple disulfide loop structure (kringle). We developed antibodies to human MSP for detection in Western blots, quantification in biological fluids, and neutralization of activity. Immunogens included native MSP, reduced and alkylated alpha and beta chains, and peptides of MSP regions with minimal sequence similarity to other kringle proteins. We found three antibody categories based on interaction with the following types of epitope: primary sequence, discontinuous (dependent on disulfide bonds), and cryptic (not exposed in native MSP). None of the antibodies reacted with related kringle proteins. A specific sandwich ELISA was developed for measuring human MSP. The mean serum concentration was 4 nM. Serum MSP did not increase over a 24-h period in response to intravenous lipopolysaccharide, indicating that MSP is not an acute phase protein. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that regulation of MSP activity is by conversion of pro-MSP to MSP rather than by rapid changes in rates of synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Maryland 21702.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skeel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002417:Cattle; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051381:Rats; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012756:Sheep; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006133:Growth Substances; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C082332:macrophage stimulating protein; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor