A Novel Immunological Assay for Hepcidin Quantification in Human Serum
2009

New Test for Measuring Hepcidin in Blood

Sample size: 56 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Koliaraki Vasiliki, Marinou Martha, Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P., Vavourakis Eustathios, Tsochatzis Emmanuel, Pangalis Gerassimos A., Papatheodoridis George, Stamoulakatou Alexandra, Swinkels Dorine W., Papanikolaou George, Mamalaki Avgi

Primary Institution: Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece

Hypothesis

Can a new immunoassay accurately quantify hepcidin levels in human serum?

Conclusion

The study successfully developed a simple and accurate ELISA assay for measuring hepcidin in human serum.

Supporting Evidence

  • Mean hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with juvenile hemochromatosis and iron deficiency anemia compared to healthy controls.
  • The assay had a detection range of 10–1500 µg/L and a detection limit of 5.4 µg/L.
  • The intra- and interassay coefficients of variance ranged from 8–15% and 5–16%, respectively.

Takeaway

Researchers created a new test to measure a protein called hepcidin in blood, which helps doctors understand iron levels in patients.

Methodology

An ELISA assay was developed using a recombinant hepcidin peptide and a polyclonal antibody to measure hepcidin levels in serum.

Limitations

The presence of other hepcidin isoforms in human samples may affect the assay's specificity.

Participant Demographics

32 healthy controls, 7 patients with juvenile hemochromatosis, 10 with iron deficiency anemia, and 7 with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.010

Statistical Significance

p<0.010

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0004581

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