title: Degree of sialylation and fucosylation of plasma and amniotic immunoglobulin G changes progressively during normal pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Terminal-located glycotopes on immunoglobulin G (IgG) are potential ligands engaged in the interactions that may modulate the biological activities of IgG. The expressions of sialic acid and fucose residues on amniotic IgG were evaluated here in relation to the progression of normal human pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sialyl-glycotope and fucosyl-glycotope expressions on maternal plasma and amniotic IgG were determined by lectin-IgG-ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amniotic and maternal plasma IgG concentrations and a degree of α2,6-sialylation and α1,6-fucosylation of maternal plasma IgG were almost unaltered during the normal pregnancy. The plasma IgG of pregnant and nonpregnant women did not contain α2,3-linked sialic acid and α1,3-linked and α1,2-linked fucoses. In contrast, the amniotic IgG from the second trimester was decorated by α2,3-linked sialic acids, α2,6-linked sialic acids, and α1,6-linked fucose, whereas the α1,3-linked and α1,2-linked fucoses were weakly expressed. During 35-37 weeks of gestation, all the parameters increased significantly, and they remained almost at the same levels throughout 35-42 weeks, including the delivery. However, they were significantly higher in the postdate pregnancy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of sialylation and fucosylation of amniotic IgG was associated with the progression of normal pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland. morczyk@immchem.am.wroc.pl
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orczyk-Pawiłowicz
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Augustyniak
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hirnle
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kątnik-Prastowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D005643:Fucose; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid