Method Determines Midkine Levels in Serum

An accurate method for determining midkine levels in blood (serum) of individuals has a detection limit of 8 pg/mL.

The midkine (MK) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantifies serum midkine concentrations between 25 and 1,000 pg/mL (dynamic range). Most healthy adults have around 300 pg/mL serum midkine levels or less. With the current dynamic range, the MK ELISA can differentiate between healthy individuals and patients who suffer from cancer.

Midkine is a multifunctional growth factor that is highly expressed during embryonic development. Midkine modulates many important biologic interactions such as cell growth, cell migration, and cellular adherence. These functions are relevant to cancer, inflammation, autoimmunity, ischemia, nerve growth/repair and wound healing. Midkine is barely detectable in healthy adults and only occurs as a consequence of the pathogenesis of a number of different disorders.

The MK ELISA was originally developed by Cellmid Ltd. (Sydney, Australia) in collaboration with BioGenes in Berlin (Germany). Cellmid is commercializing midkine as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis. Elevated midkine concentration in blood and other body fluids is strongly indicative of cancer. Cellmid’s first product, the MK-ELISA, is a blood test that sensitively and accurately measures serum midkine levels.

Cellmid has completed technology transfer of its midkine blood test (MK ELISA). Test kits have been successfully produced in the good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant environment in AsureQuality’s (Tullarmarine, Australia) fully accredited facility. Transitioning from a development phase to fully GMP compliant manufacture is an important step towards Cellmid’s application for regulatory approval (CE marking) of the kit.

Related Links:
Cellmid Ltd.
BioGenes
AsureQuality