Bridge Technology with TSH Receptor Chimera for Sensitive Direct Detection of TSH Receptor Antibodies Causing Graves' Disease

[helvella]

Newly published paper listing Dietrich JW as an author. For those who do not recognise the name, have a look here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

Anything that improves diagnostic accuracy is surely a step in the right direction.

Horm Metab Res. 2015 Jun 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Bridge Technology with TSH Receptor Chimera for Sensitive Direct Detection of TSH Receptor Antibodies Causing Graves' Disease: Analytical and Clinical Evaluation.

Frank CU1, Braeth S1, Dietrich JW2, Wanjura D3, Loos U1.

Author information

• 1KreLo GmbH Medical Diagnostics, Ulm, Germany.

• 2Department for Endocrinology and Diabetology, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

• 3Gemeinschaftspraxis Radiologie & Nuklearmedizin, Ulm, Germany.

Abstract

Graves' disease is caused by stimulating autoantibodies against the thyrotropin receptor inducing uncontrolled overproduction of thyroid hormones. A Bridge Assay is presented for direct detection of these thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins using thyrotropin receptor chimeras. A capture receptor, formed by replacing aa residues 261-370 of the human thyrotropin receptor with residues 261-329 from rat lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor and fixed to microtiter plates, binds one arm of the autoantibody. The second arm bridges to the signal receptor constructed from thyrotropin receptor (aa 21-261) and secretory alkaline phosphatase (aa 1-519) inducing chemiluminescence. The working range of the assay is from 0.3 IU/l to 50 IU/l with a cutoff of 0.54 IU/l and functional sensitivity of 0.3 IU/l. Sensitivity and specificity are 99.8 and 99.1%, respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 0.998. The low grey zone is from 0.3-0.54 IU/l. The stimulatory character of the assayed antibodies is shown through a good correlation (r=0.7079, p<10-7) to serum T4 levels of untreated patients. In Graves' disease, titers are increased in associated eye disease. In 3 hypothyroid patients with sera positive in the thyrotropin receptor competition assay and in the blocking bioassay, antibodies are not detected by the Bridge Assay, while the monoclonal blocking antibody K1-70 was detected. In Hashimoto disease thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies are detected in some patients, but not in goiter. This Bridge Assay delivers good diagnostic accuracy for identification of Graves' disease patients. Its high sensitivity may facilitate early detection of onset, remission, or recurrence of Graves' disease enabling timely adaption of the treatment.Human genes: TSHR, Homo sapiens, acc. no. M31774.1.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

PMID: 26079838 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/260...

Note: Please don't ask me to explain this. I don't understand much of it!

[tilly83]

I have tried to read but is going nowhere in my head!! Would love someone who could translate this into understandable language for the likes of me!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tilly83]

The two things that hit me were the author's name and:

Its high sensitivity may facilitate early detection of onset, remission, or recurrence of Graves' disease enabling timely adaption of the treatment.

Which sounds nice and positive.

[tilly83 in reply to helvella]

That does sound wonderful. Am currently in remission and want to stay that way but if things start to go out of kilter would be great to bring it back into line with the minimum intervention and risk to myself....thanks so much

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tilly83]

It is NOT easy to understand, and I don't. In fact, I rather expected to get no reponses at all.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to helvella]

Was just about to ask you what it meant when I read the comments. Have cut and pasted it to a scientist friend to see if she understands what it means. She's been out of the lab for some years so I'm not all that hopeful. Will keep everyone posted if I get a good result 😊

[tilly83]

thanks Helvella, if he was in Uk was going to contact him. I am currently editor of a new magazine focussed on all ages of women, have mentioned this site in issue coming out in Sept/October initially around issue of eyebrow loss, also talk about thyroid issues and wheat.....don't think this guy would make it as yet to my public!!