A Novel Method for Measuring Unbound Serum Bilirubin Levels Using Glucose Oxidase-Peroxidase and Bilirubin-Inducible Fluorescent Protein

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19652
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Iwatani Sota 神戸大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (00741430)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAKAMUTA Hajime 神戸大学, 大学院医学研究科・内科系講座小児科学分野, 名誉教授 (40030978) ; MORIOKA Ichiro 神戸大学, 大学院医学研究科・内科系講座こども急性疾患学, 特命教授 (80437467)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: unconjugated bilirubin / unbound bilirubin / measurement method / fluorescent protein / UnaG

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Increased serum levels of unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), especially in unbound bilirubin (UB), are associated with the development of brain damage in newborns. In current clinical settings, there are no standard methods for serum levels of UCB and UB. UnaG, a fluorescent protein from Japanese eel muscle that specifically binds to UCB was used in this study. UCB levels measured by the UnaG method were highly correlated with those determined by conventional bilirubin oxidase assay. The performance of the UnaG assay was unaffected by phototherapy and the presence of serum conjugated bilirubin or hemoglobin. These results demonstrate the clinical applicability of the UnaG method for measurement of UCB levels in newborn serum. To date, we have established a novel method for measuring UB levels using glucose oxidase-peroxidase and the UnaG assay (Patent PCT/JP2015/074542).

Free Research Field

新生児