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Plasma/serum protein patterns in human fetuses and infants: a study by high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide
J D Tissot1, P Hohlfeld, F Forestier
1Centre de Transfusion Sanguine, Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Insights
This study analyzed fetal and infant blood proteins, identifying key proteins like albumin and alpha-fetoprotein that change during development. A novel fetal polypeptide, P46, was also discovered, present in fetuses and young children.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Understanding fetal and infant protein profiles is crucial for assessing developmental health.
- Existing knowledge on the dynamic changes in plasma/serum proteins during gestation and early childhood is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the plasma/serum proteome in fetuses, premature infants, term newborns, and young children.
- To identify developmental changes and unique fetal proteins.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) was used to analyze protein patterns.
- Plasma/serum samples were collected from 88 fetuses (18-39 weeks gestation), 19 premature infants, 20 term newborns, and 55 children (<5 years).
- Protein maps were compared to adult reference maps.
Main Results:
- Tens of proteins and genetic variants were identified, with many common adult proteins (e.g., albumin, transferrin, alpha-fetoprotein) detectable after 18 weeks gestation.
- Alpha-fetoprotein spot size decreased with gestational age, while the overall protein pattern showed increased complexity (spot number and size).
- Significant changes were observed in IgG heavy/light chains and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin regions; a novel 46 kDa polypeptide (P46) was identified in all fetuses and infants <2 years.
Conclusions:
- The fetal and infant proteome undergoes significant dynamic changes during development.
- The identified fetal polypeptide P46 represents a potential biomarker for early development.
- 2D-PAGE is effective for profiling protein changes during fetal and early postnatal life.
Abstract:
Plasma/serum proteins of fetal blood samples (N = 88) obtained under ultrasound guidance between the 18th and the 39th week of pregnancy, of blood samples collected from premature infants (N = 19), newborns at term (N = 20) and children of less than 5 years of age (N = 55) were analysed by high-resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By comparison with adult 'reference' protein maps, tens of different proteins (and some of their genetic variants) were identified on the electrophoretograms. After the 18th week of gestation, albumin, transferrin, Factor B, glu- and lys-plasminogen, antithrombin III, Gc-globulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein, several apolipoproteins (apo A-I, A-II, A-IV, C-II, C-III, D, E, J), retinol-binding protein, transthyretin and alpha-fetoprotein could be observed. During intrauterine life, the size of the spots corresponding to alpha-fetoprotein progressively decreased, whereas the protein pattern globally showed an increase in the number and in the size of the spots. These modifications were particularly apparent in the regions of the electrophoretograms restricted to the heavy and light chains of IgG and to alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. In addition, we observed an unidentified fetal polypeptide characterized by an apparent molecular weight (M(r)) of 46 kDa (P46) and a pI of 5.0. P46 was present in all fetuses and all infants of less than 2 years of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)