Sensitive bioassay using monoclonal antibodies which bind to hormone-receptor complexes

摘要

This invention provides a quantitative assay for determining the amount of a biologically active ligand selected from the group consisting of human chorionic gonadotropin and luetinizing hormone present in a sample comprising contacting the sample with both the receptor to which the ligand naturally binds in order to effect its biologicaly activity and a monoclonal antibody directed to the ligand or to a complex of the ligand and the receptor so as to form a complex of the ligand bound to both the receptor, at the site to which the ligand naturally binds to the receptor, and the monoclonal antibody. In the complex so formed, either the receptor or the monoclonal antibody is labeled with a detectable marker and a determination is made of the amount of labeled receptor or of labeled monoclonal antibody bound to the ligand or the amount of labeled receptor or of labeled monoclonal antibody not bound to the ligand, or both such amounts. This invention further provides a quantitative assay for determining the amount present in a sample of a receptor to which a biologically acitve ligand selected from the group consisting of human chorionic gonadotropin and luetinizing hormone naturally binds in order to effect its biological activity. Finally, this invention provides kits for quantitatively assaying for the amount present in a sample of a biologically active ligand or for a receptor to which the ligand naturally binds in order to effect its biological activity.