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Acute-phase proteins in perinatal human plasma
S Liberatori1, L Bini, C De Felice
1Cattedra di Neonatologia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy.
Insights
Newborn sepsis is associated with specific protein changes, including haptoglobin and serum amyloid A protein. These acute-phase proteins indicate the body
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Early-onset sepsis is a critical condition in newborns.
- Biomarkers for neonatal sepsis are crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
- Acute-phase proteins are key indicators of inflammatory responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma protein profiles in newborns with early-onset sepsis.
- To identify specific proteins associated with neonatal sepsis.
- To explore the synthesis and modification of haptoglobin in newborns.
Main Methods:
- Electrophoretic analysis of plasma samples from newborns with sepsis and healthy controls.
- Time course monitoring of protein spot intensity.
- Analysis of post-translational modifications, specifically sialylation, of haptoglobin chains.
Main Results:
- Haptoglobin and serum amyloid A protein were consistently elevated in newborns with sepsis.
- Protein spot intensity showed dynamic changes, consistent with acute-phase responses.
- Haptoglobin beta chains were undersialated in preterm newborns; alpha chain phenotypes differed from maternal serum, suggesting neonatal synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Haptoglobin and serum amyloid A protein are potential biomarkers for early-onset neonatal sepsis.
- Neonatal haptoglobin synthesis is indicated by specific chain modifications and differences from maternal proteins.
- Understanding these protein dynamics aids in diagnosing and managing neonatal sepsis.
Abstract:
Plasma from eight newborns (4 pre-term and 4 full-term) with early-onset (< 72 h) sepsis and six apparently healthy controls was analyzed. The presence of spots identified as haptoglobin and serum amyloid A protein was the electrophoretic result most consistently associated with disease. Time course monitoring showed rises, peaks and declines of spot intensity as expected for acute-phase proteins induced by transient stimuli. Haptoglobin beta chains appear to be undersialated in pre-term newborns, whereas post-translational modifications of alpha chains and serum amyloid A protein are similar to those observed in adults. The undersialation of beta chain and occurrence of alpha chain phenotypes different from those found in maternal serum indicate that perinatal haptoglobin originates from neonatal synthesis.