Preparation of a monoclonal antibody specific for human stanniocalcin

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a glycoprotein hormone that was first identified in fish, where it regulates the calcium level in the body fluid. The cDNA whic h encodes human STC has recently been reported but the function has not bee n completely elucidated. We have prepared a monoclonal antibody against hum an STC: using an analogous peptide of the putative antigenic domain in huma n STC; it was conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), The monoclon al antibody specifically stained the distal convoluted tubules in human kid ney which is a putative target organ of STC The ELISA was established using the monoclonal antibody and recombinant human STC as a standard antigen. T he monoclonal antibody prepared in this study provides a useful tool for cl inical studies of STC in human.