Invitrogen™ VEGF-A Human ELISA Kit

Description

The Human Vascular Endothelial Growht Factor A (Hu VEGF-A) ELISA quantitates Hu VEGF-A in human serum, plasma, buffered solution, or cell culture medium. The assay will exclusively recognize both natural and recombinant Hu VEGF-A. Principle of the method The Human VEGF-A solid-phase sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is designed to measure the amount of the target bound between a matched antibody pair. A target-specific antibody has been pre-coated in the wells of the supplied microplate. Samples, standards, or controls are then added into these wells and bind to the immobilized (capture) antibody. The sandwich is formed by the addition of the second (detector) antibody, a substrate solution is added that reacts with the enzyme-antibody-target complex to produce measurable signal. The intensity of this signal is directly proportional to the concentration of target present in the original specimen. Rigorous validation Each manufactured lot of this ELISA kit is quality tested for criteria such as sensitivity, specificity, precision, and lot-to-lot consistency. See manual for more information on validation.

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) which is a 45 kDa homodimeric, disulfide-linked glycoprotein involved in angiogenesis which promotes tumor progression and metastasis. VEGF has a variety of effects on vascular endothelium, including the ability to promote endothelial cell viability, mitogenesis, chemotaxis, and vascular permeability. The VEGF family currently includes VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-E, and PIGF. VEGF and its receptor system have been shown to be the fundamental regulators in the cell signaling of angiogenesis. Most tumors have the absolute requirement of angiogenesis, and VEGF has been described as the most potent angiogenic cytokine linked to this process. To date 5 different isoforms of VEGF have been described. These isoforms are generated as the result of alternative splicing from a single VEGF gene. These various isoforms have been shown to bind to two tyrosine-kinase receptors flt-1 (VEGFR-1) and flk-1/KDR (VEGFR-2), which have been found to be expressed almost exclusively on endothelial cells. VEGF and its high-affinity binding receptors, the tyrosine kinases FLK1 and FLT1, are thought to be important for the development of embryonic vasculature. Studies have shown that an alternately spliced form of FLT1 produces a soluble protein, termed sFLT1, which binds vascular endothelial growth factor with high affinity, playing an inhibitory role in angiogenesis. Elevated levels of VEGF is linked to POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy, Skin changes) also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome which affects multiple organs in the body.