5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) derivatives, antibodies, immunoassays and detection of recent alcohol consumption

Abstract

Antibody specific for a 5-HTOL compound. A glucuronide with 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) characterized in that it comprises the structure of the β-glucuronide between the 5-hydroxy group of 5-HTOL and D-glucopyranosiduronic acid. An immunoassay and a diagnostic method utilizing the immunoassay wherein a 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) compound is determined by the use of an antibody specific for a 5-HTOL compound is used.

1 . An antibody specific for 5-hydroxytryptophol or a conjugate thereof.  
   
   
       2 . An antibody as claimed in  claim 1  specific for a glucuronide or sulphate conjugate of 5-hydroxytryptophol.  
   
   
       3 . An antibody as claimed in  claim 1  which preferentially binds to a glucuronide conjugate of 5-hydroxytryptophol as compared with free 5-hydroxytryptophol or other 5-hydroxytryptophol conjugates present in urine.  
   
   
       4 . An antibody as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3  which has no significant binding activity towards other indoles or glucuronides present in human samples.  
   
   
       5 . A 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)indole-5-O-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid derivative comprising a covalently attached analytically detectable label.  
   
   
       6 . A derivative as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said label is attached at the carboxy group.  
   
   
       7 . An immunoassay for determining 5-hydroxytryptophol or conjugates thereof characterised in that a sample containing the 5-hydroxytryptophol or conjugates thereof is assayed with an immunoassay employing an antibody as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  4 .  
   
   
       8 . An immunoassay as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said sample is urine.  
   
   
       9 . An immunoassay as claimed in either of claims  7  and 8 being a competitive assay.  
   
   
       10 . A diagnostic method for determining recent alcohol consumption of an individual, characterised in that an immunoassay is carried out according to any one of  claims 7  to  9  on a sample derived from the individual whereafter a found elevated level of the 5-hydroxytryptophol or conjugates thereof assayed is taken as an indication of recent alcohol consumption of the individual.  
   
   
       11 . A diagnostic method for determining recent alcohol consumption of an individual, characterised in that an immunoassay is carried out according to any one of  claims 7  to  9  on a sample derived from the individual, and that another compound, such as 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) or creatinine, is assayed in the same sample from the individual, and that the relation between the found levels of said other compound and the 5-hydroxytryptophol or conjugates thereof respectively, is correlated with recent alcohol consumption of the individual.