Method of diagnosing metabolic bone diseases by measuring osteoclastgenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF)

摘要

A method of diagnosing metabolic bone diseases, particularly osteoporosis and arthrosis, characterised by determining the concentration of osteoclastgenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) in humour. Monoclonal antibodies recognising equally both of monomer and dimer types of OCIF and monoclonal antibodies recognising selectively dimer types of OCIF are also described. An assay kit is provided for the determination of OCIF concentration comprising the aforementioned two antibodies recognising different epitopes of OCIF and having high affinity showing a dissociation constant of less than 2x10-7 M with antigen.