Anti-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Beta Subunit Purified

Description: This FBT11 monoclonal antibody reacts with human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). This secreted glycoprotein is composed of an alpha subunit, which is common to other peptide hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and a beta subunit which determines the specificity of the hormone. FBT11 recognizes only the free beta subunit of hCG, not the heterodimeric protein. The protein hCG is expressed in the serum of pregnant women, via trophoblastoid cells (syncytiotrophoblasts and extravillous cytotrophoblasts) that are responsible for maintenance of the corpus luteum during early gestation. hCG plays an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis through activation of the PI3K/mTOR pathway, resulting in upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The expression if the beta subunit alone was originally thought to be biologically inactive. Recent data suggests that the beta subunit may promote tumor growth and inhibit apoptosis. This correlates with the observation of elevated levels of beta hCG in aggressive forms of cancer, such as testicular, bone, and lung.

References: Cole LA, Kardana A, Seifer DB, Bohler HC Jr. Urine hCG beta-subunit core fragment, a sensitive test for ectopic pregnancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Feb;78(2):497-9. (FBT11, ELISA)

Marcillac I, Troalen F, Bidart JM, Ghillani P, Ribrag V, Escudier B, Malassagne B, Droz JP, Lhommé C, Rougier P, Duvillard P, Prade M, Lugagne PM, Richard F, Poynard T, Bohuon C, Wands J, Bellet, D. Free Human Chorionic Gonadotropin b Subunit in Gonadal and Nongonadal Neoplasms. Cancer Res July 15, 1992 52; 3901.

Bidart JM, Troalen F, Lazar V, Berger P, Marcillac I, Lhomme C, Droz JP, Bellet D.. Monoclonal antibodies to the free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin define three distinct antigenic domains and distinguish between intact and nicked molecules. Endocrinology. 1992 Oct;131(4):1832-40. (FBT11, ELISA)