Category: Publication Spotlight

Our Homoarginine ELISA Kit was highlighted in a recent publication! Researchers compiled what is known of homoarginine’s pathways and its role in different diseases and conditions. Check out the abstract and access to the full text below!

Abstract

Purpose: Homoarginine (hArg) is an arginine metabolite that has been known for years, but its physiological role in the body remains poorly understood. For instance, it is well known that high hArg concentrations in the blood are protective against several disease states, yet the mechanisms behind these health benefits are unclear. This review compiles what is known about hArg, namely its synthetic pathways, its role in different diseases and conditions, and its proposed mechanisms of action in humans and experimental animals.

Findings: Previous work has identified multiple pathways that control hArg synthesis and degradation in the body. Furthermore, endogenous hArg can modulate the cardiovascular system, with decreased hArg being associated with cardiovascular complications and increased mortality. Studies also suggest that hArg could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for a variety of immune, pancreatic, renal, and hepatic dysfunctions. Finally, in women, hArg concentrations rapidly increase throughout pregnancy and there are suggestions that alterations in hArg could indicate pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia.

Summary: Homoarginine is an under-appreciated amino acid with potential wide-ranging roles in systemic health, pregnancy, and pathophysiology. Although recent research has focused on its health or disease associations, there is a need for more investigations into understanding the mechanistic pathways by which hArg may operate. This could be aided using metabolomics, which provides a comprehensive approach to correlating multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways with physiological effects. Increasing our knowledge of hArg’s roles in the body could pave the way for its routine use as both a diagnostic and therapeutic molecule

Zubkowski A, Sferruzzi-Perri AN, Wishart DS. Mechanisms of Homoarginine: Looking Beyond Clinical Outcomes. Acta Physiol. 2025; 241:e14273. doi:10.1111/apha.14273

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The MMAE Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) ELISA Assay Kit was referenced in a recent publication! Scientists aimed to develop an antibody-drug conjugate (ADDC) to act against MET and RON receptors to treat cancers with high phenotypic heterogeneity. View the abstract and access to the full text below!

Abstract

Cancer heterogeneity, characterized by diverse populations of tumorigenic cells, involves the occurrence of differential phenotypes with variable expressions of receptor tyrosine kinases. Aberrant expressions of mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) and recepteur d’origine nantais (RON) receptors contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of cancer cells, which poses a major therapeutic challenge. This study aims to develop a dual-targeting antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) that can act against both MET and RON for treating cancers with high phenotypic heterogeneity. Through immunohistochemical staining, we show that MET and RON expressions are highly heterogeneous with differential combinations in more than 40% of pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer cases. This expressional heterogeneity provides the rationale to target both receptors for cancer therapy. A humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody specific to both MET and RON (PCMbs–MR) is generated through IgG recombination using monoclonal antibody sequences specific to MET and RON, respectively. Monomethyl auristatin E is conjugated to PCMbs–MR to generate a dual-targeting ADC (PCMdt–MMAE), with a drug-to-antibody ratio of 4:1. Various cancer cell lines were used to determine PCMdt-MMAE-mediated biological activities. The efficacy of PCMdt–MMAE in vivo is evaluated using multiple xenograft tumor models. PCMdt–MMAE shows a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, with a maximum tolerated dose of ~30 mg/kg in mice. Toxicological studies using Sprague–Dawley rats reveal that PCMdt–MMAE is relatively safe with slight-to-moderate, temporary, and reversible adverse events. Functionally, PCMdt-MMAE induces a robust internalization of both MET and RON and causes a large-scale cell death in cancer cell lines exhibiting MET and RON heterogeneous co-expressions. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the dual-targeting approach in the form of an ADC is highly effective with a long-lasting effect against tumors exhibiting MET/RON heterogeneous phenotypes. Hence, we can suggest that a dual-targeting ADC specific to both MET and RON can be employed as a novel therapeutic strategy for tumors with expressional phenotypic heterogeneity.

Wang, M., Ma, Q., Suthe, S.R. et al. Humanized dual-targeting antibody–drug conjugates specific to MET and RON receptors as a pharmaceutical strategy for the treatment of cancers exhibiting phenotypic heterogeneity. Acta Pharmacol Sin 46, 1375–1389 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-024-01458-7

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The Calprotectin ELISA Assay Kit was utilized in a recent publication! Researchers investigated whether cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 deficiency (CTLA4-D), a rare genetic disorder, could be distinguished from an individuals’ microbiome. They also aimed to identify biomarkers to indicate disease severity. Check out the abstract and access to the full text below!

Abstract

Background: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 deficiency (CTLA4-D) is an inborn error of immunity (IEI) caused by heterozygous mutations, and characterized by immune cell infiltration into the gut and other organs, leading to intestinal disease, immune dysregulation and autoimmunity. While regulatory T-cell dysfunction remains central to CTLA4-D immunopathogenesis, mechanisms driving disease severity and intestinal pathology are unknown but likely involve intestinal dysbiosis. We determined whether the intestinal microbiome and metabolome could distinguish individuals with severe CTLA4-D and identify biomarkers of disease severity.

Results: The genera Veillonella and Streptococcus emerged as biomarkers that distinguished CTLA4-D from healthy cohorts from both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, USA (NIH; CTLA-D, n = 32; healthy controls, n = 16), and a geographically distinct cohort from the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI) of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Germany (CCI; CTLA4-D, n = 25; healthy controls, n = 24). Since IEIs in general may be associated with perturbations of the microbiota, a disease control cohort of individuals with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID, n = 20) was included to evaluate for a CTLA4-D-specific microbial signature. Despite common IEI-associated microbiome changes, the two bacterial genera retained their specificity as biomarkers for CTLA4-D. We further identified intestinal microbiome and metabolomic signatures that distinguished patients with CTLA4-D having severe vs. mild disease. Microbiome changes were associated with distinct stool metabolomic profiles and predicted changes in metabolic pathways. These differences were impacted by the presence of gastrointestinal manifestations and were partially reversed by treatment with abatacept and/or sirolimus.

Conclusions: Loss of intestinal microbial diversity and dysbiosis causing metabolomic changes was observed in CTLA4-D. Albeit some of these features were shared with CVID, the distinct changes associated with CTLA4-D highlight the fact that IEI-associated microbiome changes likely reflect the underlying immune dysregulation. Identified candidate intestinal microbial and metabolic biomarkers distinguishing individuals with CTLA4-D based on severity should be studied prospectively to determine their predictive value, and investigated as potential therapeutic targets.

Chandrasekaran P, et al. The intestinal microbiome and metabolome discern disease severity in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 deficiency. Microbiome. 2025 Feb 11;13(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s40168-025-02028-7. Erratum in: Microbiome. 2025 Mar 15;13(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s40168-025-02069-y. PMID: 39934899; PMCID: PMC11817180.

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The Anti-CCP ELISA Assay Kit played a key role in a new publication! This study aimed to understand pathways leading to B cell activation and autoantibody production, and identify new biomarkers that could be helpful in predicting and assessing the response to abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis patients who don’t respond well to methotrexate and other standard treatments. Dive into the abstract and full paper below!

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether biomarkers related to B cell activation and autoantibody production are associated with the response to abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with RA were enrolled in this study. Responders (n=10) to abatacept were subjects who achieved ACR50 response at week 24. Serum levels of soluble biomarkers were measured with ProcartaPlex by Luminex or ELISA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and analysed for T cell and B cell subsets by flow cytometry. Patients were genotyped for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles. Baseline levels and longitudinal changes of markers were assessed between responders and nonresponders.

Results: Baseline levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies (p=0.01), IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) (p=0.02), CXC chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13, p=0.02), sCD23 (p<0.05), as well as frequencies of CD19+CD11c+IgD-CD27- B cells (p=0.04), were higher in responders than nonresponders. Among them, anti-CCP and frequencies of CD19+CD11c+IgD-CD27- B cells were independently associated with response to abatacept. The presence of two alleles of SE was associated with responders (p=0.04). Patients with 2 alleles of SE had higher levels of anti-CCP (p=0.02) and IgM RF (p=0.04) compared to patients with 0 or 1 allele. Further, IgM RF and CXCL13 levels decreased only in responders (p=0.02 and 0.004 respectively, at week 24), while anti-CCP levels did not decrease significantly in either responders or nonresponders.

Conclusion: Markers of B cell activation including anti-CCP and frequencies of CD19+CD11c+IgD-CD27- B cells in RA were associated with response to abatacept. IgM RF and CXCL13 decreased only in responders and could be potentially used as pharmacodynamic markers.

Wang T, Giltiay NV, Lood C, Wang N and Han BK (2025) Evaluation of B cell related markers and autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with abatacept. Front. Immunol. 16:1504454. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1504454

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The measurement of cell proliferation and cell toxicity is fundamental in biomedical research, especially in fields such as cancer biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. These parameters provide essential information about cell health, growth dynamics, and the effects of external agents such as drugs, environmental toxins, or genetic modifications.

Biomedica’s EZ4U ELISA Assay Kit (BI-5000) was highlighted in a recent study that investigated the development of novel chemosensitizers targeting therapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). The metabolic activity of cells was assessed using various cell lines. The study shows that telmisartan derivatives serve as effective chemosensitizers and offer an innovative approach for targeting CSCs in different types of malignant diseases. Click below for the full publication, where you can find the abstract and key findings!

Eradication of Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells by Novel Telmisartan Derivatives. Schoepf Anna M. et al., J Med Chem. 2025; 68(1):287-306

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The DHEA ELISA Assay Kit was highlighted in recent publication that explored how low psychological resilience and physical fitness predict attrition from US Marine Corps Officer Candidate School training! For more details, reference the abstract and access the full text below.

Abstract

The objective is to examine the predictors of attrition in male and female candidates undergoing a 10-week early career military training program. 1006 candidates (79.5% male, 24.7 ± 3.2 years) consented to participating in a larger study examining predictors of injury during US Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS). Participants completed a blood draw, demographic and psychological characteristics questionnaires, and two fitness tests. Participants were then grouped based on successful completion of OCS or not. Associations between potential predictors and attrition were analyzed using simple logistic regression analyses, followed by a backward stepwise elimination method. Area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the accuracy of the attrition prediction model. 260 candidates (25.8%) attritted over the 10-week training, with the highest number of discharges during week 5. Musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) was the most common cause of attrition (30%), followed by non-MSKI medical (21.5%), and volitional withdrawals (19.6%). Sex, body mass index (BMI), resilience, initial physical fitness test score, combat fitness test (CFT) score, and prior military service were all significantly associated with attrition from OCS (all p < .05). The final prediction model of attrition included CFT score (p = .027) and resilience (p = .018). Multiple demographic, psychological, and fitness characteristics are associated with attrition from an early career military training course (OCS) and may be utilized as part of early screening procedures to identify and provide guidance for individuals at risk for not completing OCS.

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The H. pylori Qualitative ELISA Kit was utilized in recent study! Scientists explored if Helicobacter pylori infection is a risk factor for developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children. Check out the details and access the full findings below.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection has been investigated as a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies suggest a possible link between the two conditions. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD in pediatrics and its relation to NAFLD grades. A case–control study to identify predictors of NAFLD and a comparative cross-sectional approach to determine factors affecting NAFLD grades were adopted. One hundred NAFLD children (ultrasound-based) and a control group of 100 non-NAFLD children were recruited. Both groups were evaluated by detecting H. pylori stool antigen. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Cag A (cytotoxin-associated gene A), Vac A (vacuolating cytotoxin A), Gro EL (chaperonin Gro EL), HCPC (Helicobacter cysteine-rich protein C), and Ure A (Urease subunit A) were assessed in the serum of those with positive stool antigen. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in NAFLD children compared to the control group (64% versus 25%, p-value < .001). (NAFLD children showed higher Cag A and Vac A positivity (34, 10%) versus (2%, 0%) in the control group, respectively, p-value < .001). The regression model showed that H. pylori positivity (OR (odds ratio) = 5.021, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.105–22.815), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (Homa IR) (OR = 18.840, 95% CI: 3.998–88.789), waist percentile (OR = 1.184, 95% CI: 1.044–1.344), and triglycerides (OR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.012–1.047) were predictors for NAFLD. Cag A positivity (OR = 2.740, 95% CI: 1.013–7.411) was associated with higher NAFLD grade (grade 2 fatty liver).

Conclusions: H. pylori infection could increase the risk of NAFLD in children. Triglycerides, waist circumference, and Homa IR are significant independent predictors of NAFLD.

Barakat, Sana, et al. “Is helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children?” European Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 184, no. 1, 27 Nov. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05867-y.

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Free soluble RANKL (sRANKL), the unbound and bioactive form of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand, has gained attention for its roles beyond bone remodeling and immune responses. In the context of male reproductive physiology, free sRANKL interacts with its receptor RANK, which is expressed in testicular cells, including Sertoli and Leydig cells. This interaction influences several critical processes such as Sertoli cell maturation, germ cell survival, and testosterone synthesis. Sertoli cells provide essential support and nutrients to developing sperm cells, while Leydig cells are responsible for androgen production. Therefore, the presence and activity of free sRANKL in the testicular microenvironment are essential for maintaining optimal spermatogenesis and endocrine function.

Biomedica’s Free Soluble RANKL (sRANKL) ELISA Assay Kit was highlighted in 2 recent studies! Both studies identified RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kB ligand) signaling as a regulator of male reproductive function and discovering that Denosumab stimulates spermatogenesis in infertile men. Click below for the full publications, where you can find the abstracts and key findings!

Andreassen, Christine H., et al. “Denosumab stimulates spermatogenesis in infertile men with preserved Sertoli cell capacity.” Cell Reports Medicine, vol. 5, no. 10, Oct. 2024, p. 101783, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101783.

Blomberg Jensen, Martin, et al. “Rankl regulates male reproductive function.” Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 23 Apr. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22734-8.

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The Dopamine ELISA Assay Kit was featured in a new study that focused on the role of Vitamin D3 in the mitigation of sodium arsenite induced neurotoxicity in male rats. Check out the abstract and full text!

Abstract

Arsenic is associated with various neurological disorders, notably affecting memory and cognitive functions. The current study examined the protective effects of vitamin D₃ (Vit. D₃) in countering oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis induced by sodium arsenite (SA) in the cerebral cortex of rats. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a daily oral administration of sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂, SA) at a dosage of 5 mg/kg, along with 500 IU/kg of Vit. D₃, and a combination of both substances for four weeks. The results indicated that Vit. D₃ effectively mitigated the SA-induced increase in oxidative stress markers, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and nitric oxide (NO), the decrease in antioxidants (reduced glutathione; GSH, superoxide dismutase; SOD, catalase; CAT, and glutathione peroxidase; GPx), as well as the increase in pro-inflammatory markers including, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and amyloid-beta (Aβ)1–42. Furthermore, Vit. D₃ reversed the alterations in the neurochemicals acetylcholinesterase (AchE), monoamine oxidase (MAO), dopamine (DA), and acetylcholine (Ach) and ameliorated the histopathological changes in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, immunohistochemical analyses revealed that Vit. D₃ reduced the SA-induced overexpression of cerebral cysteine aspartate-specific protease-3 (caspase-3) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebral cortex of male rats. Consequently, the co-administration of Vit. D₃ can protect the cerebral cortex against SA-induced neurotoxicity, primarily through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-astrogliosis effects.

Abdou, Heba Mohamed, et al. “Role of vitamin D3 in mitigating sodium arsenite-induced neurotoxicity in male rats.” Toxicology Research, vol. 13, no. 6, 5 Nov. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/toxres/tfae203.

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The Progesterone ELISA Assay Kit was utilized in a recent publication! The publication explored menstrual effects on thermoregulation while exercising in the heat.  Check out the abstract and full text!

Abstract

Women may be challenged to maintain thermoregulation due to hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the menstrual cycle phase on core temperature, hydration status, and perceived exertion while exercising under uncompensable heat gain. Eleven eumenorrheic women (24.4 ± 1.1 yrs, 65.7 ± 2.4 kg, 22.7 ± 1.5% body fat) walked for two 180-min trials in a heat chamber (35 °C and 30% relative humidity) during early-follicular (EF) and mid-luteal (ML) phases. Subjects completed three intervals of 50 min of exercise at 50% VO₂max. Physiological strain index (PSI), core temperature (T_C), perceived heat (PH), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured throughout both trials. Nude body weight (NBW) and blood samples were collected pre- and post-trial. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), serum estrogen, progesterone, and aldosterone. NBW showed a main effect of time (p = 0.002, η_p² = 0.62). Aldosterone showed main effect of time (p = 0.004, η_p² = 0.59) and phase (p = 0.014, η_p² = 0.47), peaking post exercise in both EF and ML (527.6.1 ± 89.0 pg·mL⁻¹ vs 827.4 ± 129.5 pg mL⁻¹ respectively, p = 0.014). Estradiol and progesterone showed main effects of phase (p = 0.007, η_p² = 0.53; p = 0.045, η_p² = 0.30) but not time (p = 0.68, p = 0.32). T_C showed main effect of time (p < 0.001, η_p² = 0.89) and phase, peaking at 170 min (EF: 37.8 ± 0.1 °C vs. ML: 38.0 ± 0.1 °C, p = 0.032, η_p² = 0.38). Main effect of time was seen for PSI (p = 0.002, η_p² = 0.88), PH (p = 0.004, η_p² = 0.66), and RPE (p = 0.026, η_p² = 0.80). Sweat rate, Hct, Hb, and percent dehydration were not different between the phases. In conclusion, subjects demonstrated elevated Tc and basal aldosterone in ML corresponding with elevations in estrogen and progesterone. Aldosterone significantly increased following exercise in the heat but remained elevated in ML. These results indicate that elevated Tc during ML is maintained during exercise in the heat despite similar perceived heat and effort between phases.

Christison, Katherine S., et al. “Menstrual cycle effects on thermoregulation while exercising in the heat.” Journal of Thermal Biology, vol. 127, Jan. 2025, p. 104036, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.104036.

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