title: A radioimmunoassay for measurement of thyroxine sulfate.
abstract: A highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible RIA has been developed to measure T4 sulfate (T4S) in ethanol extracts of serum. rT3 sulfate (rT3S) cross-reacted 7.1%, and T3S cross-reacted 0.59% in the RIA; T4, T3, rT3, and 3,3'-diiodothyronine cross-reacted 0.004% or less. The recovery of nonradioactive T4S added to serum averaged 95%. The detection threshold of the RIA was 18 pmol/L. The coefficient of variation averaged 6.9% within an assay and 12% between assays. T4S was bound by T4-binding globulin and albumin in serum. The free fraction of T4S in four normal sera averaged 0.06% compared to a value of 0.03% for T4 (P < 0.001). The serum concentration of T4S was (mean +/- SE) 19 +/- 1.2 pmol/L in normal subjects, 33 +/- 10 in hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease, 42 +/- 15 in hypothyroid patients, 34 +/- 6.9 in patients with systemic nonthyroidal illnesses, 21 +/- 4.3 in pregnant women at 15-40 weeks gestation, and 245 +/- 26 in cord blood sera of newborns; the value in the newborn was significantly different from normal (P < 0.001). The mean concentration of T4S in amniotic fluid samples at 15-38 weeks gestation was 106 +/- 22 pmol/L (cf. normal adults; P < 0.001). Administration of sodium ipodate (Oragrafin; 3 g, orally) to hyperthyroid patients was associated with a transient increase in serum T4S. The T4S content of the thyroid gland was less than 1/4000th that of T4. We conclude that 1) T4S is a normal component of human serum, and its levels are markedly increased in newborn serum and amniotic fluid; and 2) the sulfation pathway plays an important role in the metabolism of T4 in man.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles 90024-1682.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hurd
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Chua Teco
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011485:Protein Binding; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse; C045736:thyroxine sulfate; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine