The expression of fucose isoforms of amniotic and plasma alpha-1-acid glycoprotein derived from 2nd and 3rd trimester normal pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse modifications in AGP fucosylation in relation to different stages of human pregnancy.


METHODS
The relative amounts of three fucosyl-glycotopes on AGP were analysed by lectin-ELISA using fucose-specific biotinylated lectins in 169 plasma and 178 amniotic fluid samples from normal pregnancies with gestational ages of 14 to 42 weeks.


RESULTS
The plasma AGPs of all the pregnant women and amniotic AGPs from the 2nd trimester lacked fucoses. In contrast, in the 3rd trimester the amniotic AGPs were highly decorated by the innermost alpha1,6-fucose as well as alpha1,2- and alpha1,3-fucoses of the outer arms, reaching the highest expression around the perinatal period. At delivery the relative amounts of the alpha1,3- and alpha1,2-AGP isoforms, but not the alpha1,6 isoform, significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The highly fucosylated amniotic AGP isoforms could be implicated in regulatory processes to ensure homeostasis during pregnancy and to protect the fetus. They have the potential of becoming laboratory markers in obstetrics to monitor pregnancy.
Orczyk-Pawiłowicz
Magdalena
M
Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wrocław, Wrocław Medical University, Poland.
Hirnle
Lidia
L
Katnik-Prastowska
Iwona
I
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D037102:Lectins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D005643:Fucose