UTILIZATION OF A PEROXIDASE ANTIPEROXIDASE COMPLEX IN AN ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY OF ELASTIN-DERIVED PEPTIDES IN HUMAN-PLASMA

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Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a major cause of morbidity and death in the smoking population, develops insidiously over many years and significant impairement of lung function usually occurs before the disease is diagnosed. Because lung elastin degradation appears to be a prerequisite for the development of the disease, immunologic detection of elastin-derived peptides in the blood might be an effective approach to the early detection and monitoring of the disease. An improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for elastin peptides using a peroxidase-antipeoxidase complex as the reporter group was reported. The assay was sensitive to 2 ng/ml elastin peptides. For optimal, reproducible results the assay should be carried out at 16.degree. C rather than at room temperature and determinations should be made on plasma containing protease inhibitors rather than on serum. The levels of elastin-derived peptides appeared to remain relatively constant when multiple samples were taken during a 5-10-wk period from individual subjects. Patients with COPD had elevated elastin peptide levels (127 .+-. 47 ng/ml) compared with levels in normal nonsmokers (58 .+-. 17 ng/ml), whereas normal smokers had values intermediate between the 2 groups (mean peptide levels of 76 .+-. 42 ng/ml). A small group of normal smokers (20%) had elevated elastin peptide levels similar to those in the emphysema group and may represent that group of smokers who are at risk of developing obstructive lung disease.