Procollagen C-Proteinase Enhancer 1 (PCPE-1) as a Biomarker for Fibrosis relating to the diagnosis of fibrotic diseases based on total PCPE in serum
Knowhow and Research output
Technology Offer
Procollagen C-Proteinase Enhancer 1 (PCPE-1) as a Biomarker for Fibrosis relating to the diagnosis of fibrotic diseases based on total PCPE in serum
- RAMOT at Tel Aviv University Ltd.
- From Israel
- Responsive
- Knowhow and Research output
Summary of the technology
Fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by excessive collagen deposition and leading to
loss of function of affected organs. Nearly 45% of all deaths in the developed world are attributed to some type of
chronic fibrosis yet a potent antifibrotic drug is still not in sight. Quantitation of fibrosis is important to assess the
progression of the disease and evaluate new antifibrotic drugs. Many available methods are invasive and the
available non-invasive methods, which generally depend on serum marker, are not fully satisfactory. Therefore,
there is a desperate need to develop non-invasive diagnostic methods of fibrosis that can be used alone or in
combination with existing methods. Towards this end we developed simple, sensitive, specific and highly
reproducible ELISA assays to determine the concentrations of a new marker of collagen biosynthesis, procollagen
C-proteinase enhancer-1 protein (PCPE-1), in mouse and human blood. The normal blood concentrations of mouse
and human PCPE-1 were determined. Furthermore, using two experimental mouse models of fibrosis (muscle
fibrosis in mdx mice lacking dystrophin and liver fibrosis in CCl4 treated mice), we showed that PCPE-1 plasma
concentrations increased by up to 50% in both models of fibrosis. In the liver fibrosis model we showed a decrease
to normal blood levels upon recovery. In conclusion, our assay nicely reflects tissue fibrosis in mice, providing a
new quantitative basis for evaluation of fibrosis. We trust this new non-invasive assay method can be developed
into a useful diagnostic tool both for clinical and research applications. It can attract pharmaceutical companies,
companies selling diagnostic kits, and companies selling reagents for extracellular matrix research.
Project ID : 5-2011-244
Details of the Technology Offer
Collaboration with Dr Shlomit Mesilaty, Dr Yair Anikster, Prof Ido Wolf Metabolic Enzymatic Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center.
Bone metastasis is a major clinical concern that can cause severe pain, bone fractures, spinal cord compression, and rapid degradation in the quality of life of cancer patients. Metabolites and enzymes specific to osteoblast activity are used as bone formation markers. However, they have several disadvantages. Collagen type I is highly expressed during bone formation and comprises 90% of the bone extracellular matrix. Collagen type I is first synthesized and secreted in the form of soluble precursors (procollagen), which are proteolytically processed by proteinases leading to the production of mature collagen monomers. The enzyme Procollagen C protein enhancer (PCPE) regulates the enzymatic cleavage of type I procollagen and is up-regulated during bone formation.
Additional information can be provided upon request.