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Stability and degradation of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23): the effect of time and temperature and assay type

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Abstract

Summary

There is growing need for a reliable assay for measuring fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a regulator of phosphorus and vitamin D. In this work, we analyze and compare the performance of three available assays, including the effect of temperature and time. This knowledge will allow for better understanding of FGF23 in the future.

Introduction

Intact and C-terminal FGF23 (iFGF23 and cFGF23) concentrations are important in the diagnosis of hypo- and hyperphosphatemic diseases. The effects of temperature, storage, and specimen handling on FGF23 levels are not well known. We investigated the effects of various factors on plasma and serum measurement of FGF23 using three different assays.

Methods

Serum and plasma FGF23 were measured using three commercially available ELISA assays—two measuring iFGF23 and one measuring cFGF23. Samples from subjects with known FGF23 disorders were stored at 4, 22, and 37 °C and analyzed at different intervals up to 48 hours (h). A subset of samples underwent repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and samples frozen at −80 °C for up to 60 months were reanalyzed. The effect of adding a furin convertase inhibitor on FGF23 degradation was investigated using samples stored at 37 °C for 48 h. Intact FGF23 levels were measured from plasma samples of four different groups to test the correlation of the two assays.

Results

Plasma FGF23 levels were stable when stored at 4 and 22 °C for 48 h. Both plasma and serum FGF23 levels demonstrated relative stability after five freeze-thaw cycles. Long-term storage at −80 °C for 40 months induced some variability in FGF23 levels. The addition of a furin inhibitor did not affect FGF23 degradation. Intact FGF23 levels showed good correlation only at the upper limit of the assay range when comparing the two assays.

Conclusions

Sample type, handling, and choice of assay are factors that affect FGF23 levels and should be considered when measuring this hormone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    D. El-Maouche

  2. Skeletal Clinical Studies Unit, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    D. El-Maouche, R. I. Gafni, B. A. Brillante & M. T. Collins

  3. Division of Endocrinology, Alice Hyde Medical Center, Malone, NY, USA

    C. E. Dumitrescu

  4. Endocrine Service, Department of Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA

    P. Andreopoulou

  5. Thoracic and GI Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    N. Bhattacharyya

  6. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    N. S. Fedarko

Authors
  1. D. El-Maouche
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  2. C. E. Dumitrescu
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  3. P. Andreopoulou
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  4. R. I. Gafni
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  5. B. A. Brillante
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  6. N. Bhattacharyya
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  7. N. S. Fedarko
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  8. M. T. Collins
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. T. Collins.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Institutional Review Board, and all subjects provided written informed consent, in accordance with NIH regulations.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Funding

This study was supported by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

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El-Maouche, D., Dumitrescu, C.E., Andreopoulou, P. et al. Stability and degradation of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23): the effect of time and temperature and assay type. Osteoporos Int 27, 2345–2353 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3543-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3543-5

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