Expression of ceruloplasmin in Down syndrome babies and their mothers

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between ceruloplasmin expression and Down syndrome (DS). Methods Differential protein expression in serum of six mothers with DS fetuses and six mothers with healthy fetuses was detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrum,the results were confirmed by Western blot.The levels of serum ceruloplasmin in 11 mothers with DS fetuses,10 mothers with healthy fetuses,11 DS newborns and 10 healthy babies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The difference between the two groups was compared by two-independent samples t test. Results Twenty-nine differential proteins were found in the serum of the mothers with DS fetuses; among which ceruloplasmin increased significantly compared with that in mothers with healthy fetuese with density ratio of 5.43 (t=2.7102,P＜0.05).Western blot results showed that the expression of ceruloplasmin in maternal serum with DS fetuses (0.95 ± 0.24) was higher than that of normal mothers (0.37±0.14) (t=2.9521,P＜0.05) ; while the expression of ceruloplasmin in DS babies' serum (0.74±0.03) was lower than that of normal newborns (0.89±0.06)(t=-2.9515,P＜0.05).The expression of ceruloplasmin in serum of mothers with DS fetuses [(346.5± 111.8) ng/ml] was higher than that of normal mothers [(248.6478.3) ng/ml] (t=2.301,P＜0.05) ; while the expression of ceruloplasmin in DS babies' serum [(166.1 ±55.0) ng/ml] was lower than that of normal newborns [(244.0±36.0) ng/ml] (t=-3.873,P＜0.01). Conclusions Abnormal maternal and neonatal serum ceruloplasmin level might relate to DS. Key words: Down syndrome; Ceruloplasmin; Proteomics; Infant, newborn; Pregnant women