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Patients with congenital hypothyroidism demonstrate different altered expression of plasma fibrinogen and haptoglobin

Phaik-Har Yong1, Sarni M Junit, Fatimah Harun

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Clinical Biochemistry
|January 18, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) alters plasma proteins, notably fibrinogen and haptoglobin. Treatment normalizes these protein changes, suggesting CH impacts protein structure.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a condition affecting thyroid hormone production in infants.
  • Altered thyroid hormone levels can impact various metabolic processes and protein expression.
  • Understanding plasma protein changes in CH is crucial for diagnosis and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare plasma protein profiles in treated and untreated congenital hypothyroidism (CH) patients against normal controls.
  • To identify specific protein alterations associated with untreated CH.
  • To assess the normalization of protein profiles upon CH treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma samples from CH patients and controls were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
  • Proteins were visualized using silver staining and lectin detection.
  • Computerized densitometry was employed for quantitative analysis of protein spots.

Main Results:

  • Untreated CH patients showed increased fibrinogen gamma-chain and decreased haptoglobin beta-chain expression.
  • Lectin detection revealed distinct haptoglobin beta-chain isoform patterns in untreated CH patients compared to controls and treated patients.
  • These alterations were normalized after CH treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma protein profiles in CH patients exhibit distinct changes in fibrinogen and haptoglobin.
  • These alterations are reversible with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
  • Evidence suggests potential structural differences in N-glycans of haptoglobin beta-chain in untreated CH.
Abstract

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