Clinical Chemistry, Vol 29, 1923-1927, Copyright © 1983 by American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Radioimmunoassay for pancreatic polypeptide, and its age-related changes in concentration

MM O'Hare, JG Daly and KD Buchanan

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP), a recently discovered pancreatic hormone, is potentially a marker for endocrine tumors. Consequently, we devised a radioimmunoassay for it, using antisera (raised in rabbits) to bovine PP, 125I-labeled bovine PP (purified by anion-exchange chromatography), and human PP standards. Concentrations circulating in fasting, normal subjects were measured. Statistical analysis of the results revealed a skewed distribution. An age-related increase was also observed. Evaluating PP concentrations in sera from 23 patients with endocrine tumors, we found increased values in a few cases of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, carcinoid syndrome, and one tumor producing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIPoma). In contrast, values from five insulinomas and one glucagonoma were within the normal reference interval. Thus, an increased value for PP in a fasting individual may suggest the diagnosis of an endocrine tumor but is not a diagnostic prerequisite.

The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:

				J. E S Ardill Circulating markers for endocrine tumours of the gastroenteropancreatic tract Ann Clin Biochem, November 1, 2008; 45(6): 539 - 559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. McFadden, M. Rudnicki, A. Balasubramaniam, and J. E. Fischer Intraluminal Heal Recovery of Pancreatic Polypeptide Arch Surg, August 1, 1991; 126(8): 1032 - 1035. [Abstract] [PDF]