The Immunoassays (Research Use Only)
What is IGFBP-4?
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 is a member of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family and encodes a protein with an IGFBP domain and a thyroglobulin type-I domain. The cDNA for human IGFBP-4 encodes a 258-residue protein that is processed, by removal of the signal sequence, to a mature protein of 237 residues (25.6 kDa) with a single asparagine-linked glycosylation site (1). Although various cell types when in culture secrete both glycosylated (28-29 kDa) and non-glycosylated (24-25 kDa) forms of IGFBP-4, the non-glycosylated is typically the most abundant in normal human blood (2, 3).
What is IGFBP-4's role?
IGFBP-4 is unique among the six IGFBPs in having two extra cysteine residues in the variable L-domain and may be responsible for the distinctive biological functions of IGFBP-4 (4). Although the exact functional role for serum IGFBP-4 is not absolutely clear, in vitro studies have shown that IGFBP-4 inhibits IGF activity in bone cells and other cell types. IGFBP-4 has been reported to inhibit IGF-I- and IGF-II-induced cell proliferation of embryonic chick calvaria cells and MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblasts (5, 6), IGF-I- and IGF-II stimulated DNA synthesis in a variety of cell types (3).
Proteolysis is a major regulatory mechanism of IGFBP-4 functions. An IGF-dependent IGFBP-4-specific protease was first reported in the media conditioned by both human and sheep dermal fibroblasts. This protease was later identified as pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). It was shown that recombinant PAPP-A is an active protease able to cleave IGFBP-4 at a single site, between M135/K136. IGFBP-4 cleavage by PAPP-A is possible only in case when IGFBP is complexed with IGF. PAPP-A also cleaves IGFBP-5 between S143/K144, but in this case the presence of IGF is not required.
What are some applications for IGFBP-4?
Several studies have shown that concentration of PAPP-A in blood of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is higher than in blood of patients with stable coronary artery disease or control subjects. PAPP-A has been suggested as a marker of cardiovascular diseases associated with coronary artery blood clotting, such as unstable angina and myocardial infarction (MI) (7-14). It was hypothesized that in atherosclerotic plaques PAPP-A expressed by activated smooth muscles cells could function as an active enzyme cleaving IGFBP-4 complexed with IGF, thus enhancing IGF bioavailability. The IGF system might contribute to the atherosclerotic plaque development, destabilization, and rupture leading to acute coronary events (15). It was shown that IGFBP-4 is expressed by different cells of tumor origin, such as lung adenocarcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colon carcinoma, follicular thyroid carcinoma, gastric cancer, glioma, hepatoma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma and prostate cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that IGFBP-4 plays an important role in the growth regulation of a variety of tumors, possibly by inhibiting autocrine IGF actions. Regulation of IGF bioavailability may play crucial role in tumor growth and development (13).
The measurements of IGFBP-4 along with PAPP-A enzyme activity could be of higher clinical value than just PAPP-A measurements as PAPP-A concentration in blood is affected by heparin injections. The concentration of PAPP-A, total IGFBP-4 and intact IGFBP-4 in biological fluid can be measured accurately using immunoassay methods:
| Development of Well Characterized ELISAs for Bound and Unbound Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Their Binding Proteins (Presented at 2016 Endocrine Society Conference) |
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What is the value in measuring Total and Intact IGFBP-4?
The ratio of total to Intact IGFBP-4 concentration measured in individual subject over time will help normalizes the IGFBP-4 variability between subjects and also increase the detection rate of increased PAPP-A activity in MI subjects. The immunoassay methods designed for the measurement of total and Intact IGFBP-4 in patient samples could be of practical value for the diagnosis or prediction of various pathologies including ACS and cancer.About Ansh Labs' Total and Intact IGFBP-4 ELISA kits:
| Human IGFBP-4 Flyer (Total/Intact) | Rat/Mouse IGFBP-4 ELISA |
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| Human Total IGFBP-4 ELISA | Human Intact IGFBP-4 ELISA |
The Immunoassays (Research Use Only)
Ansh Labs' IGFBP-4 Citations:
Becker et al. A Novel Neutralizing Antibody Targeting Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Growth and Ascites Accumulation in Patient Mouse Tumorgrafts. Mol Cancer Ther. 2015 Apr;14(4):973-81. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-14-0880. Epub 2015 Feb 18. PMID: 25695953; PMCID: PMC4394033.
Kumar et al. Development of Well Characterized ELISAs for Bound and Unbound Insulin-Like Growth Factors and their Binding Proteins. Poster presented at 98th Annual Endocrine Society Meeting; 2016 Apr 1-3; Boston, MA.
Anastasilakis et al. Free IGF-1, Intact IGFBP-4, and PicoPAPP-A are Altered in Acute Myocardial Infarction Compared to Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Healthy Controls. Horm Metab Res. 2019 Feb;51(2):112-119. doi: 10.1055/a-0794-6163. Epub 2018 Nov 29. PMID: 30497090.
Nur et al. IGFBP-4: A promising biomarker for lung cancer. J Med Biochem. 2021 Jun 5;40(3):237-244. doi: 10.5937/jomb0-25629. PMID: 34177367; PMCID: PMC8199439.
Parry et al. Markers of placental dysfunction and spontaneous preterm birth. Amer Jour Obst Gyne, January 2020, Volume 222, Issue 1, Supplement S1-S760 (SMFM 40th Annual Meeting--The Pregnancy Meeting)
Donegan et al. PAPP-A in normal human mesangial cells: effect of inflammation and factors related to diabetic nephropathy. J Endocrinol. 2016 Oct;231(1):71-80. doi: 10.1530/JOE-16-0205. Epub 2016 Aug 12. PMID: 27519211.
Martín-Rivada et al. Pappalysins and Stanniocalcin and Their Relationship With the Peripheral IGF Axis in Newborns and During Development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Sep 28;107(10):2912-2924. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac453. PMID: 35902207.
DiPrisco et al. Placental proteases PAPP-A and PAPP-A2, the binding proteins they cleave (IGFBP-4 and -5), and IGF-I and IGF-II: Levels in umbilical cord blood and associations with birth weight and length. Metabolism. 2019 Nov;100:153959. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2019.153959. Epub 2019 Aug 8.
Cediel et al. Prognostic value of the Stanniocalcin-2/PAPP-A/IGFBP-4 axis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018 Apr 30;17(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s12933-018-0710-3.
Panagiotou et al. Serum Levels of Activins, Follistatins, and Growth Factors in Neoplasms of the Breast: A Case-Control Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Feb 1;104(2):349-358. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-01581. PMID: 30388235.
Polyzos et al. Targeted Analysis of Three Hormonal Systems Identifies Molecules Associated with the Presence and Severity of NAFLD. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Mar 1;105(3):e390–400. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz172. PMID: 31690932; PMCID: PMC7112980.
Bøtkjær et al. Transcription profile of the insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway during human ovarian follicular development. Assist Reprod Genet. 2019 May;36(5):889-903. doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01432-x. Epub 2019 Mar 15.
Page References:
1. La Tour D, Mohan S, Linkhart T A, Baylink D J, Strong D D. Inhibitory insulin-like growth factor binding protein: cloning, complete sequence, and physiologic regulation. Mol Endocrinol. 1990; 4:1806-1814.
2. Baxter R C, Martin J L. Binding proteins for the insulin-like growth factors: structure, regulation and function. Prog in Growth Factor Res. 1989; 1:49-68.
3. Rechler M M., Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Vitam Horm. 1993; pp. 471-114.
4. Zhou R, Diehl D, Hoeflich A, Lahm H, Wolf E., IGF-binding protein-4: biochemical characteristics and functional consequences. Journal of Endocrinology 2003; 178: 177-193.
5. Mohan S, Bautista C, Wergedal J, Baylink D J. Isolation of an inhibitory insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein from bone cell conditioned medium: a potential local regulator of IGF action. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA. 1989; 86:8338-8342.
6. Mohan S, Nakao Y, Honda Y, et al., Studies on the molecular mechanisms by which insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) and IGFBP-5 modulate IGF actions in bone cells. J Biol Chem. 1995; 270:20424-20431.
7. Qin Q, Wittfooth S, Pettersson K. Measurement and clinical significance of circulating PAPP-A in ACS patients. Clin Chim Acta. 2007;380:59-67.
8. Iversen KK, Teisner AS, Teisner B, et al. Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A, a Novel, Quick, and Sensitive marker in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Am J Cardiol. 2008;101:1389-1394.
9. Lund J, Qin Q, Ilva T, et al. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A: A biomarker in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Annals of Medicine. 2006;38:221-228.
10. Elesber AA, Lerman A, et al. Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and risk stratification of patients presenting with chest pain in the emergency department. Int J Cardiol. 2007;117:365-369.
11. Heeschen C, Dimmeler S, et al. Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Levels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes. JACC. 2005;45(2):229-237.
12. Lund J, Qin Q, Ilva T, et al. Circulating Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A Predeicts Outcome in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome but No Troponin I Elevation. Circulation. 2003;108:1924-1926.
13. Bayes-Genis A, Conover CA, et al. Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A as a Marker of Acute Coronary Syndromes. NEJM. 2001;345(14):1022-1029.
14. Bonaca M P, et.al Prospective Evaluation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A and Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes. JACC. 2012;60(4):332-338.
All information is provided for educational purposes. All assays indicated are for Research Use Only