HPLC analysis of discrete haptoglobin isoform N-linked oligosaccharides following 2D-PAGE isolation

Glycosylation is a common but variable modification that regulates glycoprotein structure and function. We combined small format 2D-PAGE with HPLC to analyse discrete human haptoglobin isoform N-glycans. Seven major and several minor haptoglobin isoforms were detected by 2D-PAGE. N-Glycans released from Coomassie-stained gel spots using PNGase were labeled at their reducing termini with 2-aminobenzamide. HPLC analysis of selected major isoform N-glycans indicated that sialic acid composition determined their Separation by isoelectric focussing. N-Glycans from two doublets of quantitatively minor isoforms were also analysed. Although separation of each pair of doublets was influenced by sialylation, individual spots within each doublet contained identical N-glycans. Thus, heterogeneity in minor haptoglobin isoforms was due to modifications distinct from N-glycan structure. These studies describe a simple method for analysing low abundance protein N-glycans and provide details of discrete haptoglobin isoform N-glycan structures which will be useful in proteomic analysis of human plasma samples. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Haptoglobin elutes from human atherosclerotic coronary arteries--a potential marker of arterial pathology

BACKGROUND: Molecules which egress from atherosclerotic arteries may function as plasma markers of arterial pathology, but such egress has not been proven with living human coronary arteries. We hypothesised that proteins eluting from the arterial wall may discriminate between atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic coronary arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: During cardiac bypass surgery, 155 sequential fractions of antegradely flushed coronary cardioplegia solution were collected by balloon-cuffed catheter from the coronary sinus in subjects with angiographically extensive (n=30) or minor (n=7) coronary disease. Although plasma was the major source of protein in heavily blood-contaminated samples, under conditions of low blood contamination (<0.5 mg/ml red cell Haemoglobin) coronary circulation-derived protein was detected. N-terminal sequencing of a major 40 kDa band detected by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) demonstrated 100% homology with beta chain of Haptoglobin (Hpt). Comparison of perfusates from patients with and without significant coronary disease found that the concentration of Hpt was markedly increased in perfusates from atherosclerotic coronary arteries (0.099+/-0.017 microg Hpt/microg Hb) relative to controls (0.016+/-0.008 microg Hpt/microg Hb, P=0.0027). Analysis of peripheral plasma samples of the same subjects, and of a separate cohort of patients, confirmed greater Hpt in those with angiographic coronary disease than in those without disease. CONCLUSIONS: Proteins such as Hpt elute from the human coronary vascular bed and may differentiate between arteries with minor or extensive atherosclerosis. Although the suitability of Hpt as a circulating plasma marker for atherosclerosis remains to be established, the approach used in the present study may permit identification of diverse plasma-detectable markers of atherosclerosis, and the subsequent non-invasive evaluation of in vivo arterial pathology.8 page(s

Monocyte-lymphocyte cross-communication via soluble CD163 directly links innate immune system activation and adaptive immune system suppression following ischemic stroke

Abstract CD163 is a scavenger receptor expressed on innate immune cell populations which can be shed from the plasma membrane via the metalloprotease ADAM17 to generate a soluble peptide with lympho-inhibitory properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate CD163 as a possible effector of stroke-induced adaptive immune system suppression. Liquid biopsies were collected from ischemic stroke patients (n = 39), neurologically asymptomatic controls (n = 20), and stroke mimics (n = 20) within 24 hours of symptom onset. Peripheral blood ADAM17 activity and soluble CD163 levels were elevated in stroke patients relative to non-stroke control groups, and negatively associated with post-stroke lymphocyte counts. Subsequent in vitro experiments suggested that this stroke-induced elevation in circulating soluble CD163 likely originates from activated monocytic cells, as serum from stroke patients stimulated ADAM17-dependant CD163 shedding from healthy donor-derived monocytes. Additional in vitro experiments demonstrated that stroke-induced elevations in circulating soluble CD163 can elicit direct suppressive effects on the adaptive immune system, as serum from stroke patients inhibited the proliferation of healthy donor-derived lymphocytes, an effect which was attenuated following serum CD163 depletion. Collectively, these observations provide novel evidence that the innate immune system employs protective mechanisms aimed at mitigating the risk of post-stroke autoimmune complications driven by adaptive immune system overactivation, and that CD163 is key mediator of this phenomenon