engleski

Decreased alpha2, 6 sialylation in COPD

Many pathophysiological conditions involving inflammation were shown to be associated with aberrant protein glycosylation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a major global health problem with constantly increasing prevalence, also involves an abnormal inflammatory response. Although numerous glycoproteins were shown to play important roles in pathogenesis of COPD, the available information on glycosylation in this disease is extremely scarce. In our study encompassing 30 healthy (age 55.7&#177; 8.7 ; 10 smokers, 5 ex-smokers, 15 non smokers), and 29 individuals with diagnosed COPD (age 67.1&#177; 7.5 ; 19 smokers, 5 ex-smokers, 5 no smokers) we examined the level of &#945; 2, 6 sialylation of total serum proteins and transferrin. For the analysis of sialic acid content on serum transferrin we developed a novel lectin-based ELISA with immobilized antibodies. The level of &#945; 2, 6 sialylation of total serum proteins was analyzed using slot blot method followed by lectin-chemiluminescence detection. The obtained results showed decrease in both, transferrin sialylation for 13% (P<0.001), and total serum protein &#945; 2, 6 sialylation for 15% (P=0.002) in COPD patients compared to the controls. These findings offer a good basis for further glycobiological investigation of COPD and could be used for improvement of diagnostic approach in COPD. Furthermore, development of novel assay for transferrin sialylation represents a contribution to the studies of glycosylation changes in general.

sialylation; transferrin; plasma protein; COPD

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