Identification of the bovine alpha1-acid glycoprotein in colostrum and milk

Alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an immunomodulatory protein expressed by hepatocytes in response to the systemic reaction that follows tissue damage caused by inflammation, infection or trauma. This paper presents the detection of bovine AGP (boAGP) in mammary secretions (colostrum and milk) and mammary gland tissue. Bovine AGP was detected by Western blotting in all the samples analysed, and could be quantified in colostrum at 162 (+/- 63.7) microg/mL and 114.5 (+/- 67.8) microg/mL during the first 12 h and 24 h respectively. In mature milk, the boAGP concentration clearly decreased and was no longer detectable using the Radial Immunodiffusion (RID) technique. The concentration of mature milk boAGP was therefore semi-quantified using an anion-exchange chromatographic procedure that allowed the concentration of the protein to be determined. The presence of AGP in bovine milk was confirmed by the internal sequence analysis performed following purification to homogeneity of the protein from milk. The concentration of AGP in bovine milk with low SCC (< 250,000) was very similar to that from bovine milk with high SCC (> 250,000). In order to investigate the origin of AGP in bovine milk, a search for mRNA was carried out in somatic cells and mammary gland tissue: mRNA expression of the boAGP gene was detected in mammary gland tissue, but not in somatic cells. Finally, the cDNA sequence of the boAGP was determined, and is hereby presented.