Category: Eagle News

A recent study shows a strong association between the development of hyperphosphatemia in dogs with chronic kidney disease and increased serum levels of fibroblastic growth factor-23 (FGF-23)

Study:
Miyakawa H, Hsu H-H, Ogawa M, Akabane R, Miyagawa Y, Takemura N. Association between serum fibroblast growth factor-23 concentration and development of hyperphosphatemia in normophosphatemic dogs with chronic kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2021;35(5):2296-2305. Full Text.

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common, irreversible, and progressive disease in dogs. In patients with CKD, mineral metabolism disorders such as hyperphosphatemia, renal hyperparathyroidism, and decreased calcitriol synthesis also occur because of impaired renal function. These disorders are termed CKD—mineral and bone disorder (MBD). Hyperphosphatemia (abnormally high serum phosphate levels) is known to be a prognostic factor for shorter survival time in dogs with CKD.

The role of FGF-23 in CKD

Fibroblast growth factor-23 is released from osteocytes in response to increased serum phosphorus and calcitriol concentrations and promotes phosphate excretion into the urine by downregulation of the sodium-phosphate co-transporter in renal proximal tubular cells and inhibition of calcitriol synthesis. Fibroblast growth factor-23 acts by binding to the FGF receptor-α-klotho complex.13 In humans, cats, and dogs with CKD, circulating FGF-23 concentrations have been shown to increase in the advanced CKD stages. Increased FGF-23 concentration in CKD patients is associated with various mechanisms, such as a decreased clearance of FGF-23 because of decreasing glomerular filtration rate (GFR), compensation for the accumulation of phosphate in the body, and compensation for decreased klotho protein concentrations. Blood FGF-23 concentrations in dogs with CKD have been shown to become increased earlier than serum phosphorous concentrations therefore, FGF-23 has been noted as an early marker of CKD-MBD.

Researchers hypothesized that FGF-23 predicts development of hyperphosphatemia in normophosphatemic dogs with CKD. If correct, FGF-23 may be a useful marker of when to initiate a phosphate-restricted diet to prevent the development of hyperphosphatemia.

About the MedFrontier Intact FGF23 Assay

• low sample volume required – only 20ul
• ONLY assay that measures the full-length active form (intact form) of FGF23
• superior dynamic range of 10-3000 pg/uL
• CLEIA technology

The MedFrontier Intact FGF23 Assay was developed and manufactured by Minaris Medical.

IF you have any questions about this product or any of our other products, contact us here.

One of our supplier’s was recently featured in an editorial by Select Science! Svar Life Sciences has been working closely with Dr. Erik Tillman at Akero Therapeutics. Tillman and his team are developing a multi-modal drug that could help treat the drivers of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of non-alcoholic related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that has increased risk for cardiovascular and liver related morbidity and mortality. Him and his team have been working with Svar to create custom iLite assay-ready cells for the cell-based assays that have become a key role in the work Tillman and his teammates perform daily.

“The assay-ready cells have been much more robust and the results have been more reproducible than other cell-based assays that we had tried to use or develop in the past,” says Tillman. “Using the assay-ready cells from Svar, we understand how the cells have been made and characterized, and we are confident in how the cells are going to perform from one vial to the next, and from one lot to the next. Svar’s expertise in the engineering of the cell system and our results thus far have given us the confidence to broaden our use of the assay-ready cells.”

Click here to read the full editorial about Dr. Tillman’s research and the role of Svar’s iLite assay-ready cells.

If you have any questions about Svar’s iLite Assay Ready Cells or our other offerings contact us here.

Infertility is a frequent problem affecting up to 26% of all couples globally. Impaired semen quality is responsible for approximately 50% of all cases, but no treatment options exist. This current study provides insights into a yet unrecognized regulatory role of RANKL in male reproductive function.

Abstract

Infertile men have few treatment options. Here, we demonstrate that the transmembrane receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) signaling system is active in mouse and human testis. RANKL is highly expressed in Sertoli cells and signals through RANK, expressed in most germ cells, whereas the RANKL-inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG) is expressed in germ and peritubular cells. OPG treatment increases wild-type mouse sperm counts, and mice with global or Sertoli-specific genetic suppression of Rankl have increased male fertility and sperm counts. Moreover, RANKL levels in seminal fluid are high and distinguishes normal from infertile men with higher specificity than total sperm count. In infertile men, one dose of Denosumab decreases RANKL seminal fluid concentration and increases serum Inhibin-B and anti-Müllerian-hormone levels, but semen quality only in a subgroup. This translational study suggests that RANKL is a regulator of male reproductive function, however, predictive biomarkers for treatment-outcome requires further investigation in placebo-controlled studies.

Find the full text here.

Eagle Biosciences offers an ELISA kit that can measure soluble RANKL and OPG in serum and seminal fluid. These kits are reliable and highly sensitive. For more information about these kits or our other offerings, contact us here.

Free soluble RANKL ELISA Assay Kit
Osteoprotegerin ELISA Assay Kit

Eagle Biosciences Announces Agreement with
Genetic Analysis AS for Distribution in North America

Eagle Biosciences, Inc., a North American distributor of assay kits and antibodies, recently announced a distribution agreement with Genetic Analysis AS, a Norwegian molecular diagnostics company. The focus of the collaboration is on the unique, patented GA-map® Dysbiosis Test which detects and characterizes imbalance in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) in human fecal samples. Additionally, Genetic Analysis has developed a fecal COVID-19 test that is performed on the same GA-map platform and is an important research tool in the analysis of an individual’s COVID-19 status.

Genetic Analysis (GA) is a molecular diagnostics company with a core focus of providing innovative tools for studying the human microbiome. GA has developed and launched the GA-map platform for routine gut microbiome research and analysis. The first test on this groundbreaking platform is the GA-map Dysbiosis Test. The Dysbiosis Test is the first documented test to identify and characterize the gut microbiota composition. The GA-map Test platform is not based on sequencing but is a targeted probe-based assay. The precise and targeted approach makes it an easy plug and play platform as long as the targets are identified. GA’s vision is to become the company that standardizes gut microbiota testing worldwide.

“We are looking forward to working with Genetic Analysis and the opportunity to bring their products to labs in the US and Canada.”, states Eagle Biosciences President Dan Keefe. “Genetic Analysis has been a pioneer in the microbiota industry and has over ten years of experience in the field. We are especially excited about their GA-map® Dysbiosis Test because it is the first standardized, off-the-shelf biome mapping kit and can be run in any PCR lab.”

If you have any questions about the GA-map® test platform or any of Eagle Biosciences products, please contact us here.

About Genetic Analysis AS

Genetic Analysis AS (GA) is a science-based diagnostic company and pioneer in the human microbiome field with more than 10 years of expertise in research and product development. The unique GA-map® platform is based on a pre-targeted multiplex approach specialized for simultaneous analysis of a large number of bacteria in one reaction. The test results are generated by utilizing the clinically validated cutting edge GA-map® software algorithm. This enables immediate results without the need of further bioinformatics work. GA’s mission is to become the leading company for standardized gut microbiota testing worldwide, and GA is committed to help unlocking and restoring the human microbiome through its state-of-the-art technology. GA holds 22 highly qualified employees with relevant scientific backgrounds and with competence in bioinformatics, molecular biology, and bioengineering.

For more information about Genetic Analysis, click here.

About Eagle Biosciences, Inc.

Since 2010, Eagle Biosciences has been providing the highest quality and best value immunoassays, antibodies, and proteins available on the market. There are many suppliers of ELISAs and other assays and hundreds of thousands of products to choose from, but EagleBio only offers products that deliver the maximum level of performance and provide reliable and trusted results.

For more information about Eagle Biosciences, Inc., click here.