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Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of plasma and urine alpha(1)-microglobulin in healthy donors and patients with different haemolytic disorders and haemochromatosis

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Author

Summary, in English

Background: The haem-binding protein alpha(1)-microglobulin (alpha(1)m) is involved in protection against oxidative damage induced by extracellular haem/haemoglobin. A carboxy-terminally truncated form of alpha(1)m (t-alpha(1)m), formed by reactions with haemoglobin, degrades haem into a yellow-brown chromophore linked to the protein. The aim of this work was to investigate if t-alpha(1) in is present in urine from a large cohort and if urinary and plasma alpha(1)m/t-alpha(1)m concentrations are changed in patients with haemolytic disorders and haemochromatosis. Methods: Urine and blood from patients (n = 20) and a control group (n = 22) were investigated for alpha(1) in and t-alpha(1)m by gel electrophoresis, Western blotting and radioimmunoassay. Data were compared to clinical chemistry data and medical records. Results: Two thirds of all studied subjects displayed t-alpha(1)m in urine but the t-alpha(1)m/alpha(1)m ratio was not increased in patients. Instead, significantly elevated ratios were found in females compared to males. Patients with intravascular or extravascular haemolysis showed higher alpha(1)m, albumin and beta(2)-microglobulin/creatinine ratios in urine indicating glomerulo-tubular dysfunction. Conclusions: The demonstration of t-alpha(1)m in urine of this cohort may be of importance in quantitative clinical chemistry. Whilst impaired kidney function due to intravascular haemolysis is well-known to occur, it is an unexpected finding in a group of patients with extravascular haemolysis. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

31-37

Publication/Series

Clinica Chimica Acta

Volume

386

Issue

1-2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Clinical Laboratory Medicine

Keywords

  • alpha-l-microglobulin
  • lipocalins
  • protein HC
  • kidney
  • haemolysis

Status

Published

Research group

  • Transfusion Medicine

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0009-8981