Assay of antibodies directed against cell surface receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the three principal assay techniques that are employed to detect antibodies to the insulin receptor. Similar approaches may be applied to the detection of antibodies directed against other cell surface receptors. Antibodies directed against cell surface receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters play an important role in the pathogenesis of human disease. In some disease states, the interaction between the antibody and receptor may lead to biological effects identical to those of the natural ligand. In other conditions, anti-receptor antibodies may antagonize the bioactivity of the natural ligand. In addition to their role in pathogenesis of human disease, anti-receptor antibodies play a central role as reagents in studies of receptor structure and function. Identification of anti-receptor antibody requires demonstration that (1) the antibody binds to a receptor and (2) the same receptor binds to the ligand. These two properties can be demonstrated using several different assay techniques. No single assay method is perfect. Rather the different approaches complement one another in definitive identification of antireceptor antibodies.