Researchers at the Nuremberg Hospital and the Paracelsus Medical University have developed the world’s first monoclonal antibody that specifically and sensitively recognizes vasoinhibin (16 kDa prolactin). The international patent application protects the antibody as well as its use in standardized diagnostic tests. This is intended to close an important gap in the diagnosis of serious diseases such as peripartum cardiomyopathy .

Vasoinhibin is produced by cleavage of the pituitary hormone prolactin and has a strong anti-angiogenic effect: It inhibits the formation of new blood vessels, regulates vascular permeability and influences endothelial function. Elevated levels of the protein are associated with conditions such as peripartum cardiomyopathy, preeclampsia, as well as diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

Vasoin inhibitory is particularly relevant in peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare but life-threatening heart failure that occurs in young women shortly before or after delivery. Elevated vasoin inhibitory levels are considered a possible trigger for microvascular damage to the heart. Until now, however, there was no standardized, commercially available quantitative test for the protein.

The new monoclonal antibody was produced using hybridoma technology and was fully sequenced. A key challenge was to clearly distinguish vasoin from complete prolactin, as both have a largely identical amino acid sequence in the N-terminal region. The production and distribution of the antibody for research purposes (Research Use Only) is carried out in cooperation with Davids Biotechnologie GmbH in Regensburg.

Based on the patented antibody, a complete ELISA kit for the quantitative measurement of vasoin hibin in serum is currently being developed. The kit is intended to deliver reproducible and standardized results and will initially be used for clinical trials. In the long term, approval for clinical diagnostics is planned.

In addition, the researchers are planning to set up an international reference laboratory for vasoin hibin measurement. This laboratory is intended to serve as a quality assurance authority worldwide, provide reference materials and contribute to the definition of uniform normal and limit values.

“Vasoinhibin is a clinically important biomarker whose diagnostic potential in peripartum cardiomyopathy and other vasoinhibin-associated diseases remains untapped — not least because of the lack of a standardized measurement method. With the patented antibody, the ELISA kit in development and the planned reference laboratory, we are creating the metrological infrastructure necessary for the clinical use of this biomarker,” explains Prof. Dr. med. Jakob Triebel from the Nuremberg Hospital.

The international patent application is numbered PCT/EP2024/073698 and has been published under WO2025098661A1. The project is based at the Institute of Laboratory and Infection Medicine at Nuremberg Hospital, which is affiliated with the Paracelsus Medical Private University.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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