Modified Gliadin Peptide (MGP) IgA ELISA

The present enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) is intended for the quantitative or qualitative determination of IgA antibodies in human serum or plasma (EDTA, citrate, heparin), directed against a modified gliadin peptide (MGP). The immobilised antigen is a highly purified, synthetic peptide derivative. The test is fast (incubation time 30 / 30 / 30 minutes) and flexible (divisible solid phase, ready-to-use reagents). Six calibrators allow quantitative measurements; a negative and a positive control check the assay performance. Celiac disease (synonyme: gluten-sensitive enteropathy) affects the upper small intestine and is caused by a hypersensitive reaction to gluten, a set of proteins present in many kinds of cereal grain, e.g. wheat, oats, barley and rye. Its morphological manifestation, the more or less complete atrophy of the villi, leads to malabsorption problems, e.g. chronic vitamin deficiency. It has been known for many years that elevated levels of gliadin-specific antibodies occur in the sera of celiac patients. Gliadin is a component of gluten and constitutes a predominant antigen. Ingested gliadin is fragmented in the small intestine and the resulting peptides are deamidated by the enzyme tissue transglutaminase (tTG). Recently, it has been shown that certain deamidated gliadin peptides are powerful immunogens and that antibodies directed at these peptides exhibit a better diagnostic accuracy for celiac disease, as compared to antibodies directed at crude gliadin.