Be-Adducts and ¹⁰Be-Adduct Probes in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease

Tech ID: 04-03

Summary

Our scientists have developed ¹⁰Be-adducts as probes, detectable at very low levels, using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), as a unique tool to identify interactions with molecular targets and sub-cellular structures. Beryllium easily forms complex compounds due to its large charge number to radius ratio ¹⁰Be-adducts can be formed with proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, organic and inorganic compounds, and molecules by covalent bonding. Because very low levels of ¹⁰Be are found in nature, levels detected by AMS are unquestionably due to experimental manipulation.

They have also found that one Be-adduct, Be-ferritin, induces T cell proliferation, at concentrations 5-6 logs lower than the amounts of Be in BeSO4 needed to elicit the same response, in chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Therefore, these adducts can be used to increase the sensitivity of the BeLPT assay currently used in the diagnosis of CBD. Be-adducts may also be useful in tracing intracellular traffic pathways for Be-drugs following receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Potential Applications

• Powerful tool to detect, identify, and define molecular targets and intracellular pathways of drugs and environmental toxins, including viruses and prions.
• Diagnosis of chronic beryllium disease

Advantages of Invention
Highly sensitive - 10Be can be detected at 1x1018 levels by AMS and Be-ferritin induces T cell proliferation at concentrations 5-6 logs lower than currently used in the BeLPT assay.

State of Development
Demonstrated that Be-ferritin introduced Be into human lung macrophages in a physiologically relevant way

Patent
U.S. and International patent applications pending

Publication
Sawyer, RT et al. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol . 2004 Oct; 31(4):470-7.

Inventors
Richard T. Sawyer, PhD, Lee S. Newman, MD, and Brian J. Day, PhD

Licensing Status
Available for licensing.

For Further Information, Contact:
Emmanuel Hilaire, PhD
Licensing Associate
Intellectual Property & Technology Commercialization Program
National Jewish Health
1400 Jackson Street, Room M206b
Denver, CO 80206, USA
Voice: (303) 398-1053
Fax: (303) 270-2352
hilairee@njc.org