Rat ACV-A ELISA kits are used to detect Activin A (ACV-A) in serum, plasma and other biological samples. ACV-A is activin A, the homodimer of two inhibin beta A chains, a disulfide-linked member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. It signals through the activin type II receptors ACVR2A and ACVR2B and type I receptor ALK4, leading to phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3. Activin A is made by many cell types, including gonadal cells, placenta, bone, macrophages and fibroblasts, and it stimulates pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone release, regulates reproduction, erythropoiesis, inflammation, wound healing and bone metabolism. It is inhibited by follistatin and by inhibins. Elevated activin A levels have been associated with preeclampsia, sepsis, cachexia, fibrosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and several cancers, so it is studied as a marker of inflammation and tissue remodelling.
The test principle applied in this kit is Sandwich enzyme immunoassay. The microtiter plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with an antibody specific to Rat ACV-A. Standards or samples are added to the appropriate microtiter plate wells then with a biotin-conjugated antibody specific to Rat ACV-A. Next, Avidin conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) is added to each microplate well and incubated. After TMB substrate solution is added, only those wells that contain Rat ACV-A, biotin-conjugated antibody and enzyme-conjugated Avidin will exhibit a change in color. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of sulphuric acid solution and the color change is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450nm ± 10nm. The concentration of Rat ACV-A in the samples is then determined by comparing the OD of the samples to the standard curve.
Standard Curve:
Concentration (pg/mL)
OD
Corrected OD
1000.00
2.095
1.997
500.00
1.628
1.530
250.00
1.118
1.020
125.00
0.782
0.684
62.50
0.576
0.478
31.25
0.368
0.270
15.63
0.203
0.105
0.00
0.098
0.000
Linearity:
Matrix
1:2
1:4
1:8
1:16
Serum (n=5)
92-103%
81-92%
78-87%
91-99%
EDTA Plasma (n=5)
86-98%
91-103%
85-97%
87-96%
Heparin Plasma (n=5)
87-95%
85-97%
89-101%
85-97%
Recovery:
Matrix
Recovery range
Average
Serum (n=5)
90-105%
97%
EDTA Plasma (n=5)
86-99%
92%
Heparin Plasma (n=5)
80-95%
87%
Precision:
Intra-assay Precision (Precision within an assay)
Intra-assay Precision (Precision within an assay)：CV%<8%
Three samples of known concentration were tested twenty times on one plate to assess intra-assay precision.
Inter-assay Precision (Precision between assays)
Inter-assay Precision (Precision between assays)：CV%<10%
Three samples of known concentration were tested in forty separate assays to assess inter-assay precision.
*Note: The below protocol is a sample protocol. Protocols are specific to each batch/lot. For the correct instructions please follow the protocol included in your kit.
Step
Protocol
1.
After the kit is equilibrated at room temperature, add 100 µL of Standard Working Buffer (gradually diluted according to the instructions) or 100 µL of sample to each well, and incubate at 37°C for 80 minutes.
2.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 3 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 100 µL Biotinylated Antibody Working Solution (1×) to each well, incubate at 37°C for 50 minutes.
3.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 3 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 100 µL 1× Streptavidin-HRP Working Solution to each well, incubate at 37°C for 50 minutes.
4.
Discard the liquid in the plate, add 200 µL 1× Wash Buffer to each well, and wash the plate 5 times. After pat it dry against clean absorbent paper, add 90 µL TMB Substrate Solution to each well, incubate at 37°C for 20 minutes in the dark.
5.
Add 50 µL Stop Solution to each well, shake plate on a plate shaker for 1 minute to mix. Record the OD at 450 nm immediately, calculation of the results.
When carrying out an ELISA assay it is important to prepare your samples in order to achieve the best possible results. Below we have a list of procedures for the preparation of samples for different sample types.
Sample Type
Protocol
Serum
Samples should be collected into a serum separator tube. After clotting for 2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C, and then centrifuging at 1000 × g for 20 minutes. Assay freshly prepared serum immediately or store samples in aliquot at -20°C or -80°C for later use. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Plasma
Collect plasma using EDTA or heparin as an anticoagulant. Centrifuge samples at 1000 × g and 2-8°C for 15 minutes within 30 minutes of collection. Remove plasma and assay immediately or store samples in aliquot at -20°C or -80°C for later use. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Tissue homogenates
1. Rinse the tissues in pre-cooled PBS to completely remove excess blood, and weigh them before homogenization. 2. Mince the tissues and homogenize in fresh lysis buffer (PBS for most tissues). Use a glass homogenizer on ice. 3. Ultrasound the suspension until the solution is clear. 4. Centrifuge for 5 minutes at 10000 × g, collect the supernatant and assay immediately or store at ≤ -20°C.
Cell lysates
1. Wash adherent cells with PBS, detach with trypsin, and centrifuge at 1000 × g for 5 minutes. 2. Wash cells 3 times in PBS. 3. Resuspend cells in fresh lysis buffer at 107 cells/mL. Ultrasound if necessary. 4. Centrifuge at 1500 × g for 10 minutes at 2-8°C to remove debris. Assay immediately or store at ≤ -20°C.
Urine
Collect mid-stream first urine of the day directly into a sterile container. Centrifuge to remove particulate matter. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Saliva
Collect saliva using a collection device. Centrifuge at 1000 × g for 15 minutes at 2-8°C. Remove particulates and assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Feces
Dry feces weighing more than 50 mg were collected. Wash with PBS (w:v = 1:9). Sonicate and centrifuge at 5000 × g for 10 minutes. Collect the supernatant and assay immediately.
CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)
Remove particulates by centrifugation. Assay immediately or aliquot and store at ≤ -20°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Cell culture supernatant
Centrifuge samples at 1000 × g for 20 minutes. Collect the supernatant and assay immediately or store at -20°C or -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
