Using Aptamers as a Novel Method for Determining GnRH/LH Pulsatility
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Published version
Author(s)
Izzi-Engbeaya, Chioma
Abbara, ali
Cass, anthony
Dhillo, W
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Aptamers are a novel technology enabling the continuous measurement of analytes in blood and other body compartments, without the need for repeated sampling and the associated reagent costs of traditional antibody-based methodologies. Aptamers are short single-stranded synthetic RNA or DNA that recognise and bind to specific targets. The conformational changes that can occur upon aptamer–ligand binding are transformed into chemical, fluorescent, colour changes and other readouts. Aptamers have been developed to detect and measure a variety of targets in vitro and in vivo. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a pulsatile hypothalamic hormone that is essential for normal fertility but difficult to measure in the peripheral circulation. However, pulsatile GnRH release results in pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) release from the pituitary gland. As such, LH pulsatility is the clinical gold standard method to determine GnRH pulsatility in humans. Aptamers have recently been shown to successfully bind to and measure GnRH and LH, and this review will focus on this specific area. However, due to the adaptability of aptamers, and their suitability for incorporation into portable devices, aptamer-based technology is likely to be used more widely in the future.
Date Acceptance
2020-10-05
Citation
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (19)
ISSN
1422-0067
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
21
Issue
19
Copyright Statement
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust- BRC Funding
National Institute for Health Research
Identifier
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/19/7394
Grant Number
RDF01
CS-2018-18-ST2-002
Subjects
aptamer
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), pulsatility
synthetic oligonucleotides
Chemical Physics
0399 Other Chemical Sciences
0604 Genetics
0699 Other Biological Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
7394
Date Publish Online
2020-10-07