Figure 1.
Schematic of proBNP1–108 and two of its derivatives, NTproBNP1–76 and BNP1–32 (which is proBNP77–108). Two putative enzymes involved in proBNP cleavage are corin and furin. The specific proBNP1–108 assay (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) uses a capture antibody directed against the hinge region, i.e. region in which proBNP1–108 is cleaved into bioactive BNP1–32 and inactive NTproBNP1–76. There is a monoclonal detection antibody directed against BNP1–32 epitopes. Thus, the proBNP1–108 assay only detects uncleaved proBNP forms.