The IDK® Zonulin ELISA (Serum) is intended for the quantitative determination of zonulin family peptides (ZFP) in serum.

If your lab is testing at high volumes, the IDK® Zonulin ELISA (Serum) is also available in a customized bulk pack (20 plates).

The IDK® Zonulin ELISA (Serum) is Health Canada Licensed and developed by Immundiagnostik AG.

IDK® Zonulin ELISA Serum Background

Zonulin is a human protein analog to the zonula occludens toxin derived from Vibrio cholerae, which regulates tight junctions of the digestive tract. Zonulin binds to a specific receptor on the surface of intestinal epithelia and triggers a cascade of biochemical events. In turn, this induces tight junction disassembly and a subsequent increase in permeability of the intestinal epithelia, allowing some substances to pass through and activate immune reactions.

Fasano et al. found the zonulin system is more activated in people with celiac disease and type 1 diabetes mellitus. According to the research, individuals with active celiac disease show higher levels of zonulin and anti-zonulin antibodies compared to non-celiac patients and patients in remission on a gluten-free diet. An increased intestinal permeability, also colloquially called ‘leaky gut,’ is nowadays associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and several autoimmune, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases. Based on the evidence, leaky gut plays a meaningful role in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

The polyclonal antibody in our ELISA is based on the zonulin sequence, as published by Wang and di Pierro. Correspondingly, the readings of IDK® Zonulin ELISA detecting zonulin family peptides correlate well with established metabolic traits linked to increased gut permeability, such as insulin resistance and obesity.