Click here to download the Human Cystatin C AssayNotes
Cystatin C is a low molecular weight (13.4 kDa) cytoplasmic protein functioning as an inhibitor of various cystein proteases in the bloodstream. It inhibits both endogenous proteases, such as lysosomal cathepsines, and proteases of parasites and microbes. Cystatin C binds to the target molecule in µM to sub pM range in competitive reversible manner (1). Due to its important function cystatin C is synthesized at the stable level by most nucleated cells. Cystatin C consists of 120 amino acid residues encoded by a 7.3 kb gene located in chromosome 20 (2). Mutation in the cystatin C protein sequence is directly linked to the development of hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA) in which the patients suffer from repeated cerebral hemorrhages (3).
In clinical practice cystatin C is known as a well-described serum marker of renal failure that is not dependent of age, sex or lean muscle mass (4, 5). At the same time cystatin C is becoming increasingly known marker of elevated risk of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction and stroke (5). Stable production rate and free filtration by the renal glomeruli due to the low molecular weight, and positive charge (pI 9.3) are strong advantages of cystatin C as a serum marker of renal function. Creatinine-based equations to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are sensitive to some nonrenal factors, such as age, sex, race and lean muscle mass. There is a growing number of reports demonstrating that cystatin C is more preferable measure of GFR than creatinine as long as it doesn’t depend on these factors (5). Cystatin C is also more sensitive marker of mild renal dysfunction than creatinine (6). The concentration of plasma (serum) cystatin C in healthy individuals ranges around 0.8–1.2 mg/l, depending on analytical methods (7). Change in the serum concentration of cystatin C has been proposed as an index of kidney function: increased serum levels are almost exclusively associated with a reduction in GFR. Serum concentration of cystatin C is increased near 2-fold during various renal disorders (7). Elevated serum cystatin C level is also a strong predictor of the risk of death and cardiovascular events in elderly persons (5).
The urinary concentration of cystatin C is low and the cystatin C concentration in urine from healthy subjects is about 100 µg/l, since the protein is metabolized by the proximal tubule after filtration in the renal glomerulus. However, the concentration of cystatin C in urine from patients with renal tubular disorders is raised approximately 200-fold (8).
Advanced ImmunoChemical offers a set of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies specific to different epitopes of human cystatin C molecule. We also supply our customers with information about best MAb combinations to be used in sandwich immunoassays for quantitative measurements of cystatin C in body fluids.
References:
Search Cystatin C References from PubMed.