Summary
Activated protein C (APC) is a serine proteinase that regulates blood coagulation.
In plasma it is inhibited mainly by the protein C inhibitor (PCI). The plasma concentrations
of APC-PCI complex is increased in hypercoagulative states such as deep venous thrombosis.
Formation of the APC-PCI complex induces a drastic conformational change in PCI that
exposes new epitopes (neoepitopes) on the molecule. We have devised a simple immunofluorometric
sandwich assay for measurements of the concentrations of APC-PCI complex, employing
as the catcher, a monoclonal antibody that has a high affinity (KD ≈ 4 × 10-11M) for a complexation-specific neoepitope that is expressed on PCI. A monoclonal antibody
against protein C is employed as the tracer. The method gives a linear dose-response
curve (0.06-50 πg/l), has a low detection limit (0.06 πg/l) and no crossreactivity
with native PCI at physiologic plasma concentrations. We have now determined the concentration
of the APC-PCI complex in healthy individuals.
Keywords
APC-PCI complex - immunochemical assay - hypercoagulability