Homologous IM-9 lymphocyte radioreceptor and receptor modulation assays for human serum growth hormone.

Radioreceptor assays for human GH (hGH) have been developed using the IM-9 cultured human lymphoid cell receptor. Varying degrees of nonspecific interference with [125I] hGH binding to these cells occurs in the presence of serum. We have modified the traditional IM-9 competitive binding assay for hGH and abolished the nonspecific serum effects. The modified competitive assay is sensitive to as little as 2 ng/ml hGH, and it has been validated by the quantitative recovery of purified pituitary hGH in hypopituitary serum. Sera from stimulated normals, acromegalics, and patients with severe growth retardation were assayed. The RIA to radioreceptor assay ratios for these groups were 0.98 +/- 0.10, 0.97 +/- 0.18, and 2.43 +/- 0.54, respectively. The assay has potential usefulness in screening and predicting growth-retarded patients most likely to respond to exogenous hGH therapy. In addition, a sensitivity receptor modulation assay, which uses the ability of hGH to regulate its homologous IM-9 receptors, is described. This is 8- to 10-fold more sensitive than the nonregulatory assays and has been applied to the measurement of hGH in sera from unstimulated normals and acromegalics. The ratios of RIA to receptor modulation assay for the two groups were 1.17 +/-0.68 ad 1.07 +/- 0.26, respectively. These sensitive receptor assays offer a powerful technique for the measurement of biologically active and inactive GH peptide in serum, and may be particularly useful in the evaluation of statural growth disorders.