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Severe rheumatoid arthritis prohibits the pregnancy-induced decrease in alpha3-fucosylation of alpha1-acid
E C Havenaar1, J S Axford, E C Brinkman-van der Linden
1Department of Medical Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Glycoconjugate Journal
|January 9, 1999
Summary
Pregnancy can reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. Changes in alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) glycosylation, specifically fucosylation, correlate with RA disease activity during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may experience symptom reduction during pregnancy.
- Pregnancy influences immune and inflammatory responses, affecting disease activity.
- Alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an acute-phase protein whose levels and glycosylation can change during inflammation and pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in plasma concentration and glycosylation of alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) during pregnancy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
- To compare these changes with those observed in healthy pregnancies.
- To determine the relationship between AGP alterations and RA disease activity.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of plasma AGP levels and glycan structures (branching, alpha3-fucosylation) in RA patients (remission, relapse, unchanged categories) and healthy women throughout pregnancy.
- Comparison of pregnancy-induced glycosylation changes in AGP with those of other acute-phase proteins (alpha1-protease inhibitor, alpha1-antichymotrypsin).
- Correlation of observed changes with estrogen levels and RA disease activity.
Main Results:
- Healthy pregnancies showed a peak AGP concentration at week 18, a minimum at week 30, increased glycan branching, and decreased alpha3-fucosylation.
- Pregnancy induced increased glycan branching in AGP for all RA categories.
- In RA remission, pregnancy also induced changes in AGP concentration and fucosylation similar to healthy pregnancies; however, relapse and unchanged RA categories showed constant AGP levels and fucosylation.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy-induced changes in AGP glycosylation, particularly alpha3-fucosylation, are linked to RA disease activity.
- Decreased alpha3-fucosylation of AGP during pregnancy may serve as an indicator of RA remission.
- Estrogen levels potentially influence pregnancy-related changes in acute-phase protein glycosylation.