An Enzyme Immunoassay for Quantitation of a Type 2 Pneumocyte-Specific Surfactant-Associated Antigen in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

摘要

A sensitive, specific and reproducible assay for quantitation of a surfactant-associated antigen in mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is described. The procedure employed was a non-equilibrium competitive enzyme immunoassay in which detection of unreacted antibody was significantly enhanced by the use of a second antibody and peroxidase-antiperoxidase as the reporter label. The sensitivity of the assay was such that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid had to be diluted 15 to 30-fold prior to assay. No Interference by serum proteins or soluble tissue proteins was observed. This assay may providein vitroquantitative assessment of the functional status of type 2 pneumocytes.