This “sandwich” ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit is intended for the quantitative determination of human intact FGF-21 level in EDTA-plasma or serum. This assay doesn’t detect human FGF-21 fragments. The test is useful in clinical study related to diabetes and obesity.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF-21) belongs to the FGF-19 subfamily, which includes FGF-19, FGF-21 and FGF-23. The FGF-19 family members are potent endocrine hormones in the regulation of a diverse physiological homeostasis.
The intact FGF-21 is a small protein comprising 181 amino acids. Administration of recombinant FGF21 lowered plasma glucose and insulin levels, reduced hepatic and circulating triglycerides and cholesterol levels, and improved insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, hepatic steatosis and obesity in a range of insulin resistant animal models. The physiological functions of FGF-21 are relied on the intact molecular structure and amino acid sequence in its N-terminal and C-terminal region. An N-terminal truncated FGF-
21 (7-181) is a potent inhibitor that competitively inhibits the biological activity of intact FGF-21 (1-181). Therefore, it is important to measure the circulation intact FGF-21 level in the assessment of the physiological and pathophysiological condition. An assay that determines the fragment of the FGF-21 might overestimate the biological activity of the protein in test sample.
Circulation FGF-21 is a biomarker and its levels is increased in patient with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and obesity. An increase of circulating FGF-21 is also found in patient with Cushing’s syndrome, patient with lipodystrophy induced by HIV-1 and patient with chronic renal disease or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Clinical significance:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Gestational diabetes
- Cushing’s syndrome
- lipodystrophy induced by HIV-1
- chronic renal disease or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
