A simplified direct on-chip
forward or reverse immune assay for understanding protein-protein
interactions in the serum
Running title: Validation of serum
protein-protein interactionson biochip
Qian
Liu1,2, Lei Ye3, Song-Guo
Li1, Yi Gao1, Sheng-Sheng
Liu1, Biao Liu2, Xiao-Xue
Li4, Wei-Dong Du1, *
- Department
of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University,
Meishan Road 81, Hefei 230032, P.R. China.
- Department of
Pathology,
the Affiliated
Suzhou
Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,
Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Daoqian
26, Suzhou, P.R. China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui
Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, P.R. China.
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen
37075, Germany
* Correspondence: Wei-Dong Du, e-mail:
weidong.du@ahmu.edu.cn,
Tel +86 551 6516 1011, Fax: +86 551 6516 5628
Abstract: Background: The identification of protein-protein
interactions is of great challenge.
Therefore, we conducted this study
to fabricate a gold surface biochip with activated sophorolipids in
combination with
16-amino-1-hexadecanethiol
hydrochloride. Methods: We designed a direct on-chip immunological assay
strategy for measuring ligand-receptor interactions in a forward or
reverse manner, that is, a ligand was immobilized on the biochip surface
and allowed to interact with its specific free receptor in the liquid
phase and vice versa . The specificity of molecular interactions
on the biochip was evaluated using an immunological blocking assay and a
chemiluminescent immunoassay. To test the potential utilization of
biochip, we used the serum of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
patients as an experimental entity. Results: The receptor CD25-based
IL-2 and ligand IL-2-based CD25 assays revealed that the detection
limits on the biochip were as low as 156pg/mL and 78pg/mL, respectively.
Meanwhile, using the receptor- or
ligand-based platforms, we found that the positive rates of free IL-2
and soluble CD25 (sCD25) monomers in the sera of HLH patients were
14.3% and 71.4%, respectively, like our previous
specific-antibody-based biochip investigation. Also, the biochip shared
a good compatibility with CLIA assay in the measurement of sCD25(r=0.77,
P<0.01). Conclusions: The biochip platform can be expanded to
protein-specific serological diagnosis as a potential substitute for
immunoprecipitation and ELISA to understand the interactions between
proteins, ligands and receptors, and enzymes and substrates.
Keywords : protein biochip; molecule interaction; ligand;
receptor; IL-2; sCD25; sophorolipids; 16-amino-1-hexadecanethiol
hydrochloride
1. Introduction
Protein-protein interactions are
specifically established events between two or more protein molecules.
Developing assays for the detection and identification of
protein-protein interactions is a great challenge. Immunoprecipitation
(IP), based on the concentrated effects of antibodies and antigens, is a
classical method to study protein-protein interactions
[1]. IP is an effective way to analyze
the cellular and physiological interactions between two kinds of
proteins [2-5]. Co-immunoprecipitation
and the yeast two-hybrid system are widely used for studying stable
and/or high-affinity protein-protein interactions as well as the
configuration of molecular complexes[6,
7]. However, in some cases, protein
interactions in specific subcellular compartments are transient and
unstable[6]. Classical experimental
techniques often have intrinsic disadvantages such as the need for more
manpower, complicated protocols, expensive materials, and deviated
experimental interpretations due to false positives and
negatives[8]. Therefore, a new method
that can detect protein-protein complexes in the
liquid phase needs to be
established. Immunoassays are classified into homogeneous and
heterogeneous types. Most methodologies for the detection of monomer
and/or dimeric molecule interactions belong to heterogeneous assay, such
as theenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is used for the
detection of serum antigens using antibody probes in clinical
laboratories[9]. However, ELISA is
labor-intensive and
time-consuming[10], and most
importantly, only one type of protein can be tested at a time. In
homogenous enzyme immunoassay, both antigen-antibody reaction and
measurement of the degree of immune reaction are performed in solution
without separation of the free and antibody-bound components. The assay
is based on the conformational change of the active site of the enzyme
or the steric hindrance of the substrate by the binding of
enzyme-labeled antigen to the antibody. However, regardless of the
advantages with rapid and simple operations and utilization for the
analysis of small molecules, homogeneous immunoassays are less sensitive
than heterogeneous assays [11].All
the above techniques are lack of high-throughput parallel comparisons
for multiple biomolecules in a single experiment. The biochip technique
in combination with a self-assembling monolayer offers a high-throughput
platform and enables the detection of multiple proteins in the
serum[12-14]
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare but potentially
life-threatening illness caused due to pathological activation of the
immune system, is characterized by a classical and critical sign of
“cytokine storm,” which exhibits enhanced levels of IL-10, IL1β, IL-6,
IL-8, TNF-α, IL-2, and soluble
CD25 (sCD25) in the serum. Previously, we used a cytokine antibody-based
biochip strategy, similar to an ELISA assay, to detect specific free or
unbound cytokine monomers in the HLH
serum[15]. IL-2 specifically
recognizes sCD25, one of the three forms of IL-2 receptors. Therefore,
in this study, we used HLH as an experimental
entity to investigate the
potential of an up-to-date biochip platform for on-chip measurements of
molecular interactions. We established a novel chemical modification on
a gold surface using an activated sophorolipid(SL) in combination with
chemical reagent16-amino-1-hexadecanethiol hydrochloride(16-AHDT). We
designed a direct on-chip forward or reverse immunological strategy
based on the inherent interaction properties of a ligand and its
receptor. We immobilized ligand IL-2 on the biochip and interacted it
with free monomer of receptor sCD25 in the serum of HLH patientsand vice
versa, enabling the detection of desired monomer proteins on the biochip
and their specific binding proteins in the liquid phase, thus,
simulating IP. The strategy is shown in Figure 1. Setting up the on-chip
IP platform provides a potential technological approach for
understanding protein-protein interactions.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Reagents and equipment
SL was provided by Soliance (France). 16-AHDTwas purchased from Dojindo
(Kumamoto, Japan). 1-(3-dimethylamino) propyl)-N-ethyl carbodiimide
hydrochloride (EDC), bovine serum albumin (BSA), phosphate buffer saline
(PBS, 0.01 M, pH 7.4), N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), sodium chloride
(NaCl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), acetic acid, and hydrochloric acid
(HCl) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (USA). Goat-anti-human CD25
polyclonal antibody (pAb, BAF223), recombinant human CD25 (223-2A), and
recombinant human IL-2 (202-IL) were obtained from R&D Systems (USA).
Alexa Fluor@647 labeled anti-human IL-2 monoclonal antibody
(mAb,ab199215) was supplied by Abcam (Shanghai, China). Human IgG
protein, Cy3-conjugated goat anti-human IgG antibody and Cy3-conjugated
donkey anti-goat IgG antibody were purchased from Sangon Biotech
(Shanghai, China). PBS with Tween 20 (PBST) buffer (pH7.4)was used as
the reaction and washing buffer throughout the experiment. Interactiva
Division, ThermoHybaid (Ulm, Germany) supplied the biochips, i.e.,
standard glass slides (75 mm x 25 mm) covered with a gold film (0.1μm)
as well as an initial adhesion layer of Teflon (50 μm). The Teflon film
divided the gold surface into a matrix spot with a layout of 8 x 24
frame. Each spot diameter was 1.5 mm. The microarray scanner used was
LuxscanTM 10 K-A (CapitalBio
Corporation, Beijing, China). An atomic force microscope was provided by
Innova (Veeco Co., Ltd., USA), and attenuated total reflection
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was performed using
Nicolet 8700 (Thermo Scientific Instrument Co., USA).
2.2. Study population
Seventy-seven patients with HLH and forty-four healthy negative
individuals were enrolled. Mean age of the patients was 21, 56±23,39
years old (range 1 month-73 years) with a median age of 9.5 years old,
including 45 men and 32 women. Patients were diagnosed according to the
HLH-2004 criteria[16]. Serum sCD25was
clinically measured in 65 cases of the HLH patients using a
chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). The study was conducted in
accordance with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association
(Declaration of Helsinki), and it was approved by the Ethical Committee
of Anhui Medical University. Informed consent was obtained from all
participants.
2.3. Physicochemical characterization of the biochip surface
For cleaning, the chips were placed in a plastic box containing acetone
solution at room temperature (RT) for 1 h, and they were then placed on
a horizontal shaker at 60 rpm. Following this, the chips were placed in
a mixture of H2O: NH3.H2O:H2O2in a ratio of 5:1:1 (v/v) at 92°C for 4
min. The chips were washed with double-distilled water five times and
with ethanol thrice. Finally, the rinsed chips were dried using a
nitrogen blow. Two steps were needed to complete the chemical
modification of biochips. Step one: 2.4 mg of 16-AHDTwas dissolved in 10
mL of anhydrous ethanol (solution A). The biochips were immersed in
solution A, and they were incubated in the dark with shaking at RT
overnight. The treated biochips were washed three times with anhydrous
ethanol for 2 min, and they were then dried with a nitrogen blow. Step
two: 4 g of sophorolipid was dissolved in 10 mL of NaOH (40 g/mol) to
obtain solution B (5 M). Solution B was incubated in a water bath with
constant stirring at 90°C for 10 min. Following this, the solution was
cooled to RT, and 8 mL of HCl (18.5%) was added to solution B with
constant stirring to obtain a solution with the SL-COOH group. NHS (50
mM) and EDC (150 mM) were mixed in double distilled water to facilitate
the coupling reaction between reagents to obtain solution C. Two
milliliters of solution C was added to solution B. The mixed solution
was incubated for 1 h to promote the combination of amino and carboxyl
groups. The 16-AHDT-modified biochips from the step one were immersed
into the mixture solution of B and C and remained incubated for 3 h. The
biochips were washed three times with double-distilled water for 2 min,
and they were dried with a nitrogen blow. All incubation steps were
performed at RT (24°C) unless otherwise stated. The ready-to-use
monolayers were stored at 4°C.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ATR-FTIR were used to characterize the
modified biochip surfaces[13,
17]. AFM measurements were performed
using a digital atomic force microscope. Scans were rated from 1 Hz to 5
Hz. The size of the cantilever was set to 5μm. The instrument was
operated in tapping mode to obtain micrographs. The resulting heights of
images were processed using the Nanoscope VII
software[14]. The images were
flattened to remove the scan lines, and the height scale was set to 20
nm. ATR-FTIR detection parameters were set to 128 scans, and a nominal
resolution of 6 cm-1was used after placing liquid nitrogen with a
spectrum range of 500-4000 cm-1.Evaluation for binding efficiency of
biological molecules on the chemical surface was conducted by a direct
on-chip immunoassay for serially diluted human IgG protein and
Cy3-conjugated goat anti-human IgG antibody. Of which, 0.01M
PBST-0.1%BSA buffer (pH 7.4)was used as a blank control.
2.4. Limit of detection (LOD) of IL-2 and CD25 on the biochip
The LOD values of IL-2 and CD25 proteins were measured to validate the
mobilization efficacy of the biochip modified with 16-AHDT and activated
SL (16-AHDT-SL). Briefly, recombinant human IL-2 protein was dissolved
in 0.1 M acetic acid-0.1%BSA buffer (pH 2.27) and recombinant human
CD25 protein was dissolved in 0.01M PBST-BSA buffer (pH 7.4),
respectively. After immobilizing 6.25μg/mL of the protein solutions onto
the chemically modified biochips, we incubated the biochips in a humid
chamber at RT for 2 h. We rinsed the biochips with double distilled
water and then thrice with0.01M PBST buffer (pH 7.4) for 2 min, and
subsequently, we dried them with a nitrogen blow. Meanwhile, we prepared
additional recombinant human IL-2protein solution with 0.1M acetic
acid-0.1%BSA (pH 2.27) and recombinant human CD25 protein solution with
0.01M PBST-0.1%BSA (pH 7.4), respectively, to get
two-fold serial dilutions ranging
from 50 μg/mL to 0.049 μg/mL. We then supplied the serially diluted
recombinant human IL-2 protein solution individually onto the reaction
spots (1 µL/spot) onaCD25-coated biochip prepared as described above,
and we incubated the biochip at RT for 1 h. After washing and drying the
biochip, we incubated it with 12.5 μg/mL of Alexa Fluor@647-conjugated
anti-human IL-2 mAb in a dark environment at RT for 30 min. Similarly,
we added two-fold serial dilutions of recombinant human CD25 protein
onto one IL-2-coated biochip (1 µL/spot) and incubated the biochip at RT
for 1 h. Following this, we then incubated the biochip with 25 μg/mL of
goat anti-human CD25pAb at RT for 1 h. After washing and drying, we
incubated the biochip with 2.5 μg/mLof Cy3-conjugated donkey anti-goat
IgG antibody in the dark at RT for 30
min. After washing and dry
procedure, the fluorescence intensity of each reaction spot on the
biochips was visualized using a microarray scanner (LuxscanTM 10 K-A,
CapitalBio Corporation) equipped with two color channels, 532 (green,
PMT 350, Power 90) and 635 (red, PMT 600, Power 90), respectively. The
images were then exported as TIFF files for analysis using image
processing software in the scanner. Acetic acid-BSA buffer (pH 2.27) or
PBST-BSA buffer (pH 7.4) was used as the blank controls.
2.5. Immunological blocking assays for evaluating the binding
specificities of IL-2 and sCD25 interaction
We immobilized 6.25 μg/mL of commercially recombinant human CD25 or IL-2
protein onto two individual biochips. We selected four known IL-2- or
sCD25-positive sera from HLH patients as positive controls and four
known IL-2- or sCD25 free serum samples from healthy individuals as
negative controls. Before incubating the biochips with the serum
samples, an immunological blocking assay was performed in the vials to
verify the interaction specificities of ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25
in serum. Briefly, fourIL-2-positive sera samples were pretreated with a
commercially specific recombinant human CD25 protein in 0.01M
PBST-0.1%BSA buffer (pH 7.4)at concentrations of 0 μg/mL, 0.1 μg/mL, 1
μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, and 100 μg/mL in five individual vials at RT for 1 h.
We added the CD25-pretreated sera onto one recombinant human CD25-coated
biochip, incubated the biochip at RT for 1 h. We rinsed the biochip with
PBST buffer (pH 7.4) thrice and dried with a flow of nitrogen and then
treated it with 12.5μg/mL of Alexa Fluor@647 conjugated anti-human IL-2
mAb in a dark environment at RT for 30 min. In this case, free IL-2 in
the serum was neutralized by gradually increasing concentration of
recombinant human CD25 molecule in the vials, thus, the reaction between
free IL-2 in serum and CD25 on the biochip became impossible due to the
saturation of binding sites, and
fluorescence signals from the known positive sera turned negative.
Similarly, before biochip assay, four known receptor sCD25 positive sera
were individually neutralized with commercially specific recombinant
ligand IL-2 protein at logically diluted concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1,
10, and 100 μg/mL in 0.1M acetic acid-0.1%BSA buffer (pH2.27)in
additional five vials at RT for 1 h. Following this, we supplied the
IL-2-pretreated sera onto one recombinant human IL-2-coated biochip, and
we incubated the biochip at RT for 1 h. After washing and drying
procedure, we incubated the biochip with 25 μg/mL of goat
anti-humanCD25pAb at RT and then with 2.5 μg/mL of Cy3-conjugated donkey
anti-goat IgG antibody in the dark at RT for 1 h and30 min,
respectively. After washed and dried, fluorescence intensities of the
spots on biochips were analyzed using a microarray scanner.
2.6. Direct forward or reverse on-chip detection for free IL-2 or sCD25
monomer in serum
Protein-protein interactions were detected on the biochips in a forward
or reverse manner. To capture free IL-2 monomer in the serum, 6.25μg/mL
of the recombinant human CD25was immobilized on a biochip at RT for 2 h.
This biochip was rinsed with PBST buffer (pH 7.4) thrice and then dried
with a flow of nitrogen. Sera from 77 patients with HLH and 44 known
negative controls were diluted to 1:4 in 0.01M PBST- 0.1%BSA buffer (pH
7.4). One microliter of the diluted sera was individually added onto
each spot of the biochip. The biochip was incubated at RT for 1 h, and
then rinsed with 0.01M PBST buffer (pH 7.4) thrice and then dried with a
flow of nitrogen. Subsequently, the biochip was reacted with 12.5 μg/mL
of Alexa Fluor@647 conjugated anti-human IL-2 mAb in a dark environment
at RT for 30 min. Similarly, to capture free sCD25 monomer in the serum,
sera from patients at a dilution concentration of 1:20 in 0.01M
PBST-0.1%BSA buffer (pH 7.4) were incubated with a recombinant
IL-2-coated biochip at RT for 1 h. After washed and dried, the biochip
was reacted with 25 μg/mL of goat anti-human CD25pAb at RT for 1 h.
Finally, the specific binding was verified using 2.5 μg/mL of
Cy3-conjugated donkey anti-goat IgG antibody at RT in the dark
environment for 30 min. After washing and drying procedure, the
fluorescent signals on biochips were detected using the microarray
scanner. The fluorescence intensity was analyzed thrice over the average
value of the known negative sera as the cut-off value.
2.7. Statistical analysis
The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS Statistics (version
23.0, IBM). Data were presented as the mean±SD unless indicated
otherwise. Correlation efficiency analysis was performed using Pearson’s
test. The P values reported in this study
were two-sided and P<0.05
was significant.
3. Results
3.1. AFM and ATR-FTIR characterization of 16-AHDT-SL-modified biochip
In this study, we developed a novel self-assembled molecular monolayer
on a gold surface using 16-AHDT-SL. Figure 2 revealed various
immunological reaction efficacies in binding and detecting human IgG
protein via a direct on-chip immunoassay for serial dilutions of human
IgG protein and Cy3-conjugated goat anti-human IgG antibody. The
immobilization efficacy of the biochip with a combined modification of
16-AHDT-SL was much better than that of the biochip modified with
16-AHDT alone. A decreased fluorescence signal was visible on the
biochip as surface loading of human IgG protein was serially diluted.
Physicochemical characterization of 16-AHDT-SL was performed using
ATR-FTIR and AFM. Figure 3a shows the main functional groups in the
absorbance of 16-AHDT-SL using ATR-FTIR. Amide bonds were observed at
1410 cm-1 (C-N), 1715 cm-1 (C=O), and 3270 cm-1 (NH), indicating that
amidation reactions formed covalent bonds between the outermost NH2and
COOH groups of 16-AHDTand SL, respectively. Other peaks were observed at
3329 cm-1 (OH), 2930 cm-1 (CH2), 2870 cm-1 (CH3), 1410 cm-1 (C-N), and
1056 cm-1 (C-C) n. The main carbon chain of 16-AHDT was located at 1056
cm-1, and functional groups were observed at 3329 cm-1in different
planes of several free hydroxyl groups at the end of SL. A wide peak at
3329 cm-1 resulted in several free hydroxyl groups, forming a
polymolecular association oscillation at the outer end of SL.
Three-dimensional images of the chemically modified biochip and
unmodified clean chip were observed using AFM. The modified biochip
surface (Figure 3b) was much rougher than that the unmodified chip
surface (Figure 3c). Uneven peaks and valleys were observed on the
modified biochip surfaces. The peak height of the modified surface
varied between 6 nm and 9 nm, indicating that the reagents were fixed on
the surface of the biochip. A self-assembled molecular monolayer was
efficiently formed in combination with 16-AHDT-SL at RT, which remained
stable at 4 °C for months.
3.2. Qualification controls for CD25 and IL-2 detection using the
biochip
To determine the optimal detection limit of molecules on the biochip, we
analyzed serially diluted concentration curves for both ligand
IL-2-based and receptor CD25- based assays on the biochip. A buffer
containing 0.01 MPBST- 0.1%BSA (pH 7.4) was used as the blank control.
Figure 4 shows that the fluorescence intensities tended to attenuate as
the concentration of ligand IL-2 or receptor CD25 proteins on the
sampling points of biochips gradually decreased. We chose a fluorescence
value three times the mean value of the blank control as the cut-off
value. In this study, the visualized detection limits inCD25-based
ligand IL-2 assay and ligand IL-2-based receptor CD25 assay were156
pg/mL (Figure 4a) and 78 pg/mL (Figure 4b), respectively.
To determine the optimal serum dilution, three sera with known positive
immune reactions of ligand IL-2 or receptor sCD25 and three sera with
known negative immune reactions for both the molecules were selected.
The average fluorescence ratio values between the positive and negative
sera were outlined in the ordinate, and the layout of dilution ratios
was assigned in the abscissa (data not shown). Among the ratio spectra
of > 3, we chose 1:20 as the optimal serum dilution
concentration for the detection of serum receptor sCD25. Similarly, a
1:4 dilution ratio was optimal for the detection of serum IL-2.
3.3. Serum immunological blocking experiment on the protein biochip
Serum immunological blocking assay is an important approach for
evaluating the binding specificity of a capture molecule that combines a
serum biomarker on the detection platform. As shown in Figure 5, we
selected additional four known biomarker-positive sera and four known
biomarker-negative sera. Our data showed that fluorescent signals of
either CD25-based IL-2 assay or IL-2-based sCD25assay gradually
attenuated as recombinant ligand IL-2 (Figure 5a)or recombinant receptor
CD25 (Figure 5b)was added to the sera in vials at concentrations of 0.1,
1, 10, and 100 μg/mL. The histogram indicated that such a
protein-protein interaction between the ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25
monomer in sera were completely blocked after adding 0.1μg/mL of
recombinant ligand IL-2 protein or recombinant receptor CD25protein to
the vials (Figure 5c). Data from the immunological blocking assays
demonstrated the binding specificities of IL-2 and sCD25 on-chip assays.
3.4. Direct on-chip immunological assays for the detection of serum IL-2
or sCD25 monomer
In this study, we evaluated an on-chip measurement strategy for
capturing free receptors or ligand monomers in HLH sera in a forward or
reverse manner by means of its intrinsic intermolecular recognition
property. We performed a direct immunological binding assay using either
IL-2-or CD25-coated biochips (Figure 6). We chose a cut-off value three
times the mean value of negative controls. The positive rates of free
ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25 monomers in 77 HLH sera detected using
the ligand/receptor-based biochip assays were 14.3% and 71.4%,
respectively. We compared ratios of IL-2 and sCD25 values in the HLH
patients in the biochip assay (Supplementary Table 1) and found that
vast majority of sCD25/IL-2 ratios in the patients were over one. Again,
to validate the accuracy of the biochip assay in detecting immune
responses to ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25, we evaluated the
biochip-based methodology in comparison with a conventional CLIA for
sCD25 in identical HLH patients. We found that the biochip assay had a
satisfying correlation with CLIA assay in the measurement of sCD25
(r=0.77, P<0.01, Pearson test, Supplementary Table 2),
indicating that the effectiveness of the biochip platform and CLIA were
in close accordance with each other. Thus, the biochip with its
high-throughput advantage reduced the shortcomings of IP and performed
multiple measurements of a variety of associated proteins.
4. Discussion
In this study, we developed a new biochip strategy to understand
potential protein-protein interactions in solutions. First, we developed
a novel self-assembled molecular monolayer on a gold surface using an
activated sophorolipid in combination with 16-amino-1-hexadecanethiol
hydrochloride. Chemical characterization of the surface was performed
using ATR-FTIR and AFM techniques, as shown in Figure 2. Crosslinking of
16-AHDT and SL enhanced the protein binding capacity of the biochip by
means of free hydroxyl groups at the end of SL. A previous study
demonstrated that SL has a strong wettability due to both the large
exposure of C-OH groups of glucose and prominent surface roughness while
glucose moieties are parallel to the surface (low roughness) and more
C-OH groups are involved in hydrogen bonding with their close neighbors
[17]. SL molecules with double bonds
can present strong combined functions due to the preferential exposure
of C-OH groups[18]. Additionally, our
direct immunological reaction to human IgG molecules on the modified
biochip provided a valuable demonstration for the efficient binding of
molecules.
Second, using the newly modified biochip surface, we simulated a direct
on-chip IP assay, revealing immunological interactions between the two
molecules, ligand IL-2 and its receptor CD25. Protein-protein
interactions were detected on the biochips in either a forward or
reverse manner. Detection of human receptor CD25 in a liquid phase,
which was combined to a ligand IL-2-based biochip, was achieved by
adding a specific anti-human CD25 antibody and fluorescence-labeled
secondary antibody, respectively. Alternatively, after we immobilized
recombinant receptor CD25onto the biochip surface, integration of ligand
IL-2 in the liquid phase with the receptor CD25-based biochip was
revealed by means of a specific fluorescence-labeled anti-human IL-2 IgG
antibody. In this study, the immunological detection efficacy on the
biochips indicated that ligand IL-2-based CD25 assay revealed more
sensitive than receptor CD25-based IL-2 assay (78 pg/mL vs.156 pg/mL).
The LOD values were similar to those reported previously
[12,
15].
We supposed that molecular size of proteins as linkers on the biological
surface would be attributable to the potentials. IL-2 and CD25 show
molecular weights of 15kDa and 55 kDa, respectively. Small molecule IL-2
as a linker on the biochip would enable less efficient steric hindrance
in molecular interaction reaction. Data from immunological blocking
assays showed the specificity of on-chip IL-2 and sCD25 interaction
assays.
Third, the practicability of biochip platform was further evaluated
using the sera from 77 HLH patients. HLH is rich in IL-2 and its
receptor, sCD25. The ligand IL-2 molecule on the biochip specifically
captures its receptor CD25, if any, in HLH serum. In this study, using
the ligand/receptor-based biochip assays, on the one hand, we found that
the positive rates of ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25 monomers in the
sera were 14.3% and 71.4%, respectively, which were in accordance with
our previous α-IL-2 or α-sCD25antibody-based biochip investigation, in
which ligand IL-2 and receptor sCD25 monomer in the HLH sera have been
detected using their relevant specific
antibodies[15]. Our data indicated
that the biochip shared an impressive compatibility with CLIA assay in
the measurement of sCD25. This further provided evidence that the
biochip could detect the interaction specificity between ligand IL-2 and
receptor sCD25 monomers in the HLH sera. On the other hand, we observed
that almost all sCD25-to-IL-2 ratios in individual patients were over
one, indicating that there would b emore abundant sCD25 than IL-2 in the
serum of the HLH serum. Moreover, the data also supported the evidence
that elevated sCD25levels in HLH are inversely associated with reduced
IL-2 levels [15,
19, 20].
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in immune homeostasis
and preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases, including
HLH[21]. IL-2 plays a crucial role in
Treg survival, lineage maintenance, suppressor function, and even cell
development while such functions require the binding of IL-2 to its
receptors, thereby activating the signal transducer and activator of
transcription 5, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and mitogen-activated
protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase
pathways[22]. Understanding the role
of IL-2 in HLH requires the binding ofIL-2 to its receptor
CD25[23]. There are three chains of
IL-2 receptors (IL-2R), which incorporate IL-2Rα (CD25), IL-2Rβ (CD122),
IL-2Rγ (CD132)[24] and a combination
of various forms of IL-2R. In humans, the IL-2R βγ complex binds to IL-2
with a moderate affinity, but the IL-2R αβγ complex constitutes a
high-affinity receptor because CD25 adds nearly a 1,000-fold higher
ligand affinity to the receptor trimer. In contrast, the heterodimer
IL-2Rβγ in murine cells has a low affinity for IL-2. CD25 expression is
required to complete the functional receptors of the trimeric structure.
The IL-2/CD25 complex has a short half-life in vivo. The binding and
dissociation of IL-2/CD25 complex is in equilibrium in
vivo[25]. IL-2 can be dissociated
from the IL-2/CD25 complex to maintain serum IL-2 levels
[26,
27]. An increased CD25level modulates
serum IL-2 levels via conjugation with
IL-2[28]. Therefore, the IL-2/CD25
interaction is important in complex formation
[29,
30]. Interactions between sCD25 and
IL-2 are essential features of signal transduction, and they are
important for development and physiological functioning at the cellular
level [31,
32].
Taken together, we established a
new protein biochip platform for the detection of serological
protein-protein interactions between a ligand and its receptor in a
forward or reverse manner. The biochip strategy was of an impressive
value, simple and timesaving. It could be widely used as a potential
substitute for IP and ELISA in protein-specific serological diagnosis
and understanding protein interactions in signal transduction pathways.
The potential benefits of the biochip format also include its
high-throughput assay, reduction of the limitations of IP, and
concomitant measurements of multiple protein-protein interactions
between ligand-receptor and enzyme-substrate both clinically and
pharmacologically.
Author
Contributions:
Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing - Review & Editing, Qian
Liu;Methodology, Validation, Writing - Review & Editing, Lei
Ye;Methodology, Resources &Visualization, Song-Guo
Li;Software&Formal analysis, Yi Gao;Resources& Visualization,
Sheng-Sheng
Liu;Validation,
Biao Liu;Review & Editing, Xiao-Xue Li;Conceptualization, Supervision,
Project administration, Funding acquisition, Writing - Review &
Editing, Wei-Dong Du.
Fundings: This research was funded by Project of Institute of
Translational Medicine of Anhui Province [grant number: 2017zhyx37]
and Suzhou Science and Technology Program, [grant number: SS202079].
Informed Consent Statement:
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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