title: Origin and significance of the heterogeneity of protein hormones.
abstract: The heterogeneity of circulating protein hormone is the result of multiple steps including gene expression, mRNA maturation, post-translational processing and peripheral catabolism. As a consequence of these cumulative events, it seems difficult to evaluate the endocrine function by using specific radioimmunoassays for each circulating variant of a protein hormone. Moreover, the discovery of new molecular variants of protein hormones with unknown biological significance complicates the standardization and the clinical interpretation of immunoassays.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Recherche sur la Reproduction, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Faculté de Médecine, Belgique.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meuris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robyn
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger