Changes in concanavalin A-reactive proteins in inflammatory disorders.
Quantitative changes of concanavalin A (Con A)-reactive proteins in serum samples obtained from rats with induced inflammation and from patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases were examined by use of lectin blots. Treatment of rats with a single dose of fermented yeast to induce inflammation caused an extensive increase in Con A-reactivity. These changes were time dependent and were similar in both sexes of the animals. When we examined serum samples obtained from patients with various inflammatory disorders for their Con A-reactive proteins as compared with normal donors, we noted that the Con A-reactivity increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Among all the glycoproteins examined by lectin blots with use of Con A, a set of five proteins was selected for detailed analysis by densitometric scanning. These included alpha 2-macroglobulin, P-150, P-95, P-40, and P-35, of Mr 180,000, 150,000, 95,000, 40,000, and 35,000, respectively, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Densitometric scanning analysis of the lectin blots revealed that the Con A-reactivity of these proteins increased during inflammation. Because alpha 2-macroglobulin is not an acute-phase protein in humans, an increase in Con A staining of this protein suggested that altered glycation is associated with autoimmune diseases. Thus, study of changes in Con A-reactive proteins in human sera may facilitate our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.
Silvestrini
B
B
Institute of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Rome, Italy.
Guglielmotti
A
A
Saso
L
L
Cheng
C Y
CY
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003101:Collodion; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007700:Kinetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism
D001798:Blood Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003101:Collodion