Berlin and Potsdam, June 2010 - UP Transfer GmbH and ProteaImmun GmbH have closed a cooperation agreement for the development of a diagnostic detection kits for HtrA-proteins. ProteaImmun has an outstanding expertise on producing HtrA and UP Transfer has a proven track record experience on the production of antibody. The cooperation will take 2 years. For more information about UP Transfer: http://www.up-transfer.de/ 

Human HtrA1, HtrA2, HtrA3, and HtrA4, have been discovered only recently. HtrA1 inhibits signalling by proteins of the TGFß family such as TGFß, BMP4, and activin. HtrA1 is increased in osteoarthritic joints and it cleaves aggrecan. It may possibly also aggravate osteoarthritis by antagonizing TGFß. In later stages of tumor progression HtrA1 is decreased. HtrA1 also degrades various fragments of amyloid precursor protein and has been suggested to participate in the ß-amyloid pathway and therefore to be involved in Alzheimer disease. A promoter polymorphism of the HtrA1-gene is associated with wet age-related macular degeneration as well.

For research and diagnostic purposes is an HtrA-ELISA detection kit indispensable.

The project is being funded with investments from ZIM (Zentrales Innovationsprogram Mittelstand) and Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie.