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Resolving Transferrin Isoforms via Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
Waseem Q Anani1, Eric Ojerholm2, Michael R Shurin2
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ananiwq@upmc.edu.
Objective:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may present as rhinorrhea or otorrhea and can lead to life-threatening complications if not detected. The usefulness of the morpholinopropanesulfonic acid (MOPS)-histidine buffer in detecting β₂-transferrin, which is only found in the cerebrospinal fluid, was compared with the standard barbital buffer.
Methods:
We evaluated 20 aural or nasal patient specimens submitted for CSF testing via agarose electrophoresis with barbital and MOPS-histidine buffers.
Results:
The MOPS-histidine and barbital buffers revealed 5 transferrin bands and 2 transferrin bands with CSF, respectively. Seventeen of 20 patient specimens had concordant results. The 3 discrepant specimens initially tested negative with the barbital buffer and positive with the MOPS-histidine buffer. Two of the 3 patient specimens later tested positive with the barbital buffer when a new specimen was submitted.
Conclusion:
Agarose electrophoresis with the MOPS-histidine buffer increases the resolution of transferrin isoforms.
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