Proteins of rat serum: III. Gender-related differences in protein concentration under baseline conditions and upon experimental inflammation as evaluated by two-dimensional electrophoresis.
We have previously described the major components of rat serum (Electrophoresis 1998, 19, 1484-1492 and 1493-1500). In this report we examine sex-related differences in protein concentrations, both in control animals and upon experimentally induced inflammation. Under baseline conditions approximately one third of the spots resolved in serum by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) are expressed at levels > or =25% higher in female rats than in male rats and a further 10% at levels > or =25% lower. Inflammation increases the expression of the positive acute-phase reactants: hemopexin, ceruloplasmin, alpha1-antitrypsin (all approximately 2-fold), C-reactive protein (3- to 5-fold), serine protease inhibitor-3 (4- to 5-fold), thiostatin (> 5-fold in females, >20-fold in males), clusterin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin chains and alpha2-macroglobulin. The baseline level of the last four markers is below the detection limit, hence no percent increase can be computed. Conversely, negative acute-phase reactants are reduced on inflammation: alpha1-inhibitor III, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, kallikrein-binding protein and transthyretin (all reduced to between 1/2 to 1/3 of the baseline levels), retinol-binding protein (to about 1/2 to 1/4) and albumin (to 2/3). Except for thiostatin, the changes in acute-phase protein levels are similar in male and female rats.
Miller
I
I
Veterinärmedizinische Universität, Institut für Medizinische Chemie, Wien, Austria.
Haynes
P
P
Eberini
I
I
Gemeiner
M
M
Aebersold
R
R
Gianazza
E
E
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001798:Blood Proteins