Haptoglobin. A potential reporter molecule for glycosylation changes in disease.
The acute-phase protein, haptoglobin, is elevated in many diseases; however, its glycosylation also changes, and the type of change observed can vary with disease. Increased fucosylation is a common finding, and the fucose-specific lectin, lotus tetragonolobus, can be used to differentiate different diseases (eg inflammatory conditions, liver diseases), and to monitor disease activity in cancer. Changes in N-acetyl neuraminic acid and N-acetylglucosamine suggest that particular carbohydrate structures predominate in certain diseases. Because haptoglobin glycosylation provides a record of previous intracellular events, it will help to improve our understanding of pathological processes and provide potential clinical markers for the future.
Turner
G A
GA
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000032:analysis
D006242:Haptoglobins; D009005:Monosaccharides