title: Microheterogeneity of acute phase proteins in patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the serum alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and transferrin (Tf) concentrations and to evaluate the microheterogeneity of these acute phase proteins in patients with ulcerative colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 17 healthy control subjects were studied. The patients were categorised as severe (n = 9), moderate (n = 10) and mild groups (n = 8) using Truelove and Witts' classification of ulcerative colitis. Microheterogeneity of ACT, AGP and Tf was analysed by crossed immunoaffinity electrophoresis (CIAE) with concanavalin A. In all serum samples standard electrophoresis of serum proteins was performed, iron (Fe) concentration, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our patients suffering from ulcerative colitis had significantly higher serum ACT and AGP concentrations and lower serum transferrin concentration in comparison to healthy subjects. Changes in concentrations of acute phase proteins were dependent on the activity of the inflammatory process. The glycosylation patterns of transferrin were related to the inflammation status. We also observed the correlation between ACT and AGP concentrations, patterns of transferrin glycosylation and changes in standard protein electrophoresis or blood cell count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The glycosylation patterns of transferrin obtained from patients suffering from ulcerative colitis are highly branched and sialylated compared with those obtained from healthy subjects. In contrast, the glycosylation patterns of transferrin do not differ according to the activity index of ulcerative colitis. The microheterogeneity patterns of AGP and ACT are similar in ulcerative colitis patients and healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzymisławski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derc
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobieska
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiktorowicz
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D014168:Transferrin; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin