Inhibition of growth factor binding by pre-incubation with anti-heparan sulphate antibodies HS4C3 or AO4B08
| Patient | Pre-incubation with HS4C3 | Pre-incubation with AO4B08 | ||
| IGF-1 | HGF | IGF-1 | HGF | |
| Non-COPD | ||||
| 1 | + | − | + | + |
| 2 | + | − | + | + |
| 3 | + | − | + | + |
| 4 | + | − | + | + |
| 5 | + | − | + | + |
| COPD | ||||
| 6 | + | − | + | + |
| 7 | + | − | + | + |
| 8 | + | − | + | + |
| 9 | + | − | + | + |
| 10 | + | − | + | + |
| 11 | + | − | + | − |
| 12 | + | − | + | + |
| 13 | + | + | + | − |
| 14 | + | − | + | − |
IGF: insulin-like growth factor; HGF: hepatocyte growth factor; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cryosections were pre-incubated with HS4C3 or AO4B08, followed by incubation with growth factors IGF-1 or HGF. Bound antibodies were visualised. An overall inhibition of HGF binding is seen after pre-incubation with HS4C3, as indicated by the negative HGF-staining. Pre-incubation of HS4C3 had no effect on the binding of IGF-1. Antibody AO4B08 had no effect on the binding of growth factors IGF-1 and HGF, except in patients 11, 12 and 14 (HGF). +: comparable intensity to non-pre-incubated cryosections; −: completely absent staining.