Linked Life Data

15956355

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/15956355

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-6-15
pubmed:abstractText
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is secreted during early pregnancy and is required for implantation and maintenance of the pregnancy. Active or passive immunoneutralization of hCG results in termination of pregnancy and this forms the basis of the hCG-based female contraceptive vaccine. However, the beta subunit of hCG possesses 85% sequence homology with the first 114 amino acids of the beta subunit of pituitary human LH (hLH), which is required for ovulation and maintenance of the corpus luteum function during the menstrual cycle. Immunization against hCG or its beta subunit leads to generation of antibodies that can neutralize hLH due to many shared epitopes and hence may cause abnormal menstrual cycles. Therefore, it is essential to identify epitopes that are different in the two hormones. In the present study, we report a monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for hCG that shows no binding to the isolated subunits. Interestingly, the MAb also does not bind hLH at all. The epitope mapping analysis revealed that this antibody recognizes a unique discontinuous epitope present only in the heterodimeric hCG and is distinct from the unique C-terminal extension of hCG beta that is absent in hLH beta. The MAb, either as IgG or its recombinant single-chain variable region fragment, inhibited the response to hCG, but not to hLH. Thus, the epitope recognized by this MAb is an ideal candidate antigen for immunocontraception.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0952-5041
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
34
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
879-87
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-8-13
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Identification of a heterodimer-specific epitope present in human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) using a monoclonal antibody that can distinguish between hCG and human LH.
pubmed:affiliation
Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't