ELISA Kits Help Identify Diabetes, Immune Deficiency Problems, Cancer, and More

The human body is a complex system where all organs, tissues, and cells work in harmony. However, various internal and external factors, such as infections, genetic mutations, immune system problems, hormonal imbalances, or exposure to harmful substances, can disrupt the balance. This leads to several diseases.

In such cases, the body reacts and produces certain proteins, antibodies, or hormones to maintain the balance. These indicators serve as biomarkers of illness. Detecting these biomarkers at an early stage can help treat the disease. Here is where ELISA test kits come into play.

What Is ELISA?

ELISA or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay is a plate-based technique used to detect the presence of biomarkers in a biological sample. These kits are known for high sensitivity and specificity. So, they are ideal for detecting a range of diseases. They rely on antigen-antibody interactions.

In this technique, a specific antibody is immobilized on a microplate. When a sample is added, it binds to the target antigen if present. After this, an enzyme-linked secondary antibody is added, which binds to the complex. It produces a signal when a substrate is added. The signal is usually a color change, which is directly proportional to the quantity of biomarkers present in the sample.

ELISA has four formats:

• Direct ELISA
• Indirect ELISA
• Sandwich ELISA
• Competitive ELISA

Every ELISA format has specific applications, depending on the complexity of the sample and the desired sensitivity.

Common Diseases Diagnosed with ELISA Technology

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects how the body processes glucose, a type of sugar that serves as a primary energy source. Under normal conditions, the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps cells absorb glucose from the blood. However, in diabetes, this process becomes impaired.

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, little or no insulin is produced.
• Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells become resistant to insulin. This leads to excess glucose in the bloodstream, even though insulin may still be present.

Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels. That's why early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring are essential for effective diabetes management.

At times, ELISA plays a critical role in identifying and tracking various biomarkers involved in the development and progression of diabetes. It helps:

• Insulin Measurement: ELISA helps measure insulin levels, which further aids in differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
• C-Peptide Detection: C-peptide is a byproduct of insulin production. ELISA helps assess how much insulin the body is naturally producing.
• Autoantibody Detection: In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells. ELISA helps detect autoantibodies like GAD65, IA-2, and ZnT8.

Immune Deficiency Disorders

The immune system protects our body from infections and harmful substances. It includes white blood cells, antibodies, and organs like the spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. These parts work together to fight off viruses, bacteria, and other invaders.

Sometimes, the immune system does not work properly. This is called an immune deficiency disorder. It means the body cannot fight infections as well as it should.

There are two main types of immune deficiency:

• Primary immune deficiency: This is caused by a problem in the genes. It is present from birth. Examples include SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency) and CVID (Common Variable Immunodeficiency).
• Secondary immune deficiency: This happens later in life. It can be caused by HIV, cancer treatments, poor nutrition, or certain medicines.

When the immune system is weak, a person may get sick often. The infections may also be more serious. In some cases, the immune system may attack the body's own cells. This leads to autoimmune diseases.

Doctors use ELISA kits to diagnose these problems. ELISA tests can measure antibodies, cytokines, and other immune markers in the blood. These results help doctors understand how strong or weak the immune system is.

By using ELISA, doctors can determine which part of the immune system is not functioning properly. This helps them choose the right treatment to keep patients healthier.

ELISA helps:

• Immunoglobulin Levels: ELISA measures the levels of antibodies that fight against infections. It includes IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE.
• Cytokine Analysis: Cytokines are proteins that regulate immune responses. ELISA helps detect imbalances that lead to immune dysfunction.
• Complement Proteins: The level of proteins like C3 and C4 is usually low in autoimmune and immune deficiency diseases. ELISA has high sensitivity; it is an ideal tool to detect proteins.
• HIV Testing: ELISA is the first-line test for detecting HIV antibodies in blood.

Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases caused by the uncontrolled growth and division of abnormal cells in the body. Under normal circumstances, cells grow, divide, and die in a regulated manner. However, when this process breaks down, often due to genetic mutations, environmental triggers, or immune system failure, cells begin to grow uncontrollably and may form tumors or spread to other parts of the body.

In the body, cancer cells can alter the surrounding environment by producing abnormal proteins, stimulating blood vessel growth, and suppressing immune responses. These changes often result in the release of biomarkers, such as proteins, antigens, or antibodies.

Cancer diagnosis often relies on identifying specific biomarkers. ELISA kits can easily detect these biomarkers in blood or other body fluids. This not only aids in early detection and monitoring progression but also helps in evaluating treatment response.

ELISA helps:

• Tumor Markers:
• PSA for prostate cancer
• CA-125 for ovarian cancer
• CEA for colorectal and breast cancer
• AFP for liver cancer
• Circulating Antigens: Cancer cells release abnormal antigens into the bloodstream. ELISA can detect these antigens, even if they are present in small amounts.
• Autoantibodies and Cytokines: Some cancers trigger autoantibody production or change cytokine levels. These changes can be tracked using ELISA to assess the tumor's impact on the immune system.

The Bottom Line

The usage of ELISA kits is not limited to diabetes, immune deficiency disorders, and cancers; they are also used for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and more. Due to their high sensitivity, fast results, and ease of use, ELISA test kits are used in various diagnostic tests and research experiments. As medical science advances, these kits will become a more reliable tool.