Alpha1-acid Glycoprotein Glycoforms Research Articles

Development and evaluation of silica-based lectin microcolumns for glycoform analysis of alpha1-acid glycoprotein

Silica-based lectin microcolumns were developed and optimized for the separation and analysis of glycoform fractions in alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) based on both the degree of branching and level of fucosylation. Concanavalin A (Con A) and Aleuria Aurantia lectin (AAL) were immobilized onto HPLC-grade silica by reductive amination and packed into 2.1 mm i.d. × 5.0 cm microcolumns. Factors examined for these microcolumns include their protein content, binding capacity, binding strength and band-broadening under isocratic conditions (Con A) or step elution conditions (AAL) and in the presence of various flow rates or temperatures. These factors were examined by using experiments based on frontal analysis, zonal elution, peak profiling and peak decay analysis. Up to 200 μg AGP could be loaded onto a Con A microcolumn and provide linear elution conditions, and 100 μg AGP could be applied to an AAL microcolumn. The final conditions for separating retained and non-retained AGP glycoform fractions on a Con A microcolumn used a flow rate of 50 μL min−1 and a temperature of 50 °C, which gave a separation of these fractions within 20 min or less. The final conditions for an AAL microcolumn included a flow rate of 0.75 mL min−1, a temperature of 50 °C, and the use of 2.0 mM l-fucose as a competing agent for elution, giving a separation of non-retained and retained AGP glycoforms in 6 min or less. The inter-day precisions were ±0.7–4.0% or less for the retention times of the AGP glycoforms and ±2.2–3.0% or less for their peak areas.

Glycoform Analysis of Alpha1-Acid Glycoprotein by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Electrophoretic Injection.

Human alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an acute phase glycoprotein that has a heterogeneous glycosylation pattern. This pattern can change in certain diseases, which has resulted in interest in using AGP glycoforms as potential biomarkers for these diseases. This report describes a method that uses capillary electrophoresis to characterize and analyze AGP glycoforms both in purified samples of AGP and in human serum. This method uses static and dynamic coatings of poly(ethylene oxide) that are applied to a silica capillary for separation of AGP glycoforms in the reversed-polarity mode of CE and in the presence of negligible electroosmotic flow. Electrophoretic injection is performed onto such capillaries by using a stationary stacking interface between the sample and running buffer. In addition, acidic precipitation and desalting are used to allow for the isolation and the analysis of AGP from only 65μL of serum. Up to eleven AGP glycoform bands can be reproducibly separated by this method, with the difference in migration time between neighboring bands being 12- to almost 60-fold larger than the standard deviation for the migration time of any given band. A limit of detection down to about 2nM per glycoform band can be obtained by this method for AGP in serum based on absorbance detection and without the need for further sample modification or labeling.

Structural heterogeneity of glycoform of alpha-1 Acid glycoprotein in alcoholic cirrhosis patients.

Altered glycosylation of serum proteins has been reported in different pathologic conditions. Changes in glycosylation of serum proteins in disease state have been extensively used for the development of noninvasive sensitive clinical tests for diagnostic purposes. The aim of the present research was to monitor the changes of glycoform of serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) patients which could be predicted as serological marker for diagnosis. AGP was isolated from the albumin depleted pooled sera of ALC patients as well as controls by monoclonal anti-AGP affinity column. The altered glycoforms of AGP was determined by HPLC mapping followed by mass spectrometry and GALAXY database search. N-glycans released from AGP by hydrazinolysis were labeled with 2-aminopyridine and separated by three successive HPLC columns, viz., DEAE, ODS and amide silica. Significant decrease of sialylation level was observed by HPLC in ALC patients group with respect to controls. The binding of SNA with AGP was found to be less in patients group than control by ELISA and lectin blotting using Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA). This variation of N-linked glycoforms and decreased level of sialic acid in AGP could be valuable for the diagnosis of ALC besides clinical examination and routine laboratory investigation that could be helpful for treatment strategy.

α1‐Acid glycoprotein fucosylation as a marker of carcinoma progression and prognosis

Serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), an acute-phase protein secreted by the liver, carries alpha(1,3)-fucosylated structures on its 5 highly branched, N-linked sugar chains. Serum AGP levels in patients with various types of malignancies (n=214 patients) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with anti-AGP antibody. To investigate glycoforms that differed in their degree of branching and extent of fucosylation, serum AGP samples were analyzed by crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis (CAIE) with concanavalin A, and Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL), and anti-AGP antibody. A significant difference (P <0.001) in serum AGP levels was observed in preoperative patients compared with levels in the healthy control group, but the levels in individual patients did not reflect their clinical status. Conversely, it was found not only that the patterns of AGP glycoforms differed widely in the patient group compared with the healthy control group, but they also changed depending on each patient's clinical status. Furthermore, AGP glycoforms seemed to be appropriate markers of disease progression and prognosis according to follow-up studies of 45 patients during prolonged preoperative and postoperative periods. Patients with advanced malignancies who had AGP glycoforms that contained highly fucosylated triantennary and tetraantennary sugar chains for long periods after surgery were likely to have a poor prognosis. However, patients who had AGP glycoforms without such changes were expected to have a good prognosis.

Capillary electrophoresis of sialic acid-containing glycoprotein. Effect of the heterogeneity of carbohydrate chains on glycoform separation using an alpha1-acid glycoprotein as a model.

alpha1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) showed multiple peaks on separation using capillary electrophoresis in a chemically modified capillary with dimethylpolysiloxane at slightly acidic conditions. We analyzed glycoforms of AGP species after separation by ion-exchange chromatography, Con A affinity chromatography, and Cu(II)-chelating affinity chromatography. The AGP species thus obtained were digested with N-glycosidase F, and the released carbohydrate chains were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography after labeling with 3-aminobenzoic acid. The results afforded basic information on the contribution of carbohydrate chains to the separation mechanism of glycoforms of AGP by capillary electrophoresis. In addition, we describe an easy method for AGP analysis in serum samples using the electrokinetic injection.

Zonal variation in the distribution of an α 1-acidglycoprotein glycoform receptor in human adrenal cortex

Using a histochemical technique with three different alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform one glycoform specific receptor has been identified in human adrenal cortex. The receptor is associated to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform B and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform C. The glycoform specific receptor was located in the cytoplasm of glomerulosa and outer fasciculata cells. The intensity of the reaction product decreased in the fasciculata, and no staining was seen in inner fasciculata and reticularis. Inhibition with the simple sugars, mannose and GlcNAc confirmed a lectin-like reaction. The binding activity was dependent on the presence of calcium ions and not on thiol reagents. Thus the lectin-like receptor may belong to the C-type lectin family. Using an antibody to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein the presence of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was observed in the same location as the glycoform specific receptor. The binding of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform B and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform C to the glycoform specific receptor is inhibited by the steroid hormones cortisone, aldosterone, estradiol and progesterone but not by testosterone. The pronounced changes in the distribution of AGP and its glycoform receptors during cell differentiation in the adrenal cortex suggest that AGP and its complementary lectins belong to the group of lectins which control differentiation and spatial position.

Carbohydrate composition and immunomodulatory activity of different glycoforms of alpha1-acid glycoprotein.

The acute phase protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), is a normal constituent of human blood (0.2-1 mg ml(-1)) and its glycosylation and concentration in the blood change during inflammation. In this review of our recent work, we discuss the immunomodulatory properties of AGP in connection with the structure of its carbohydrate chains. AGP samples prepared from normal donor serum (nAGP), serum obtained during abortion (fAGP), serum of cancer patients (cAGP), and ascitic fluid of patients with stomach cancer (sAGP) were subjected to analysis. All the samples except for fAGP had five N-linked chains of the 'complex' type, however, the numbers of bi-, tri-, and tetra-antennary chains, as well as glycan structures terminating these chains, were different. fAGP had three N-linked chains of the lactosamine and polylactosamine type and three O-chains which were not present in AGP isolated from the other sources. The glycoforms of nAGP and sAGP that were isolated using a ConA affinity column were similar in respect to their branching, but differed in their terminal oligosaccharides. sAGP was enriched in units ending in Le(x) and asialoagalacto (GlcNAc-terminating) forms. Immunomodulatory activity of different AGP preparations was tested in vitro by measuring their effect on the proliferative response of human lymphocytes stimulated by PHA, and by determining their influence on the production of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF in the stimulated cells. nAGP was less active compared to cancer or fetal AGP in the proliferation test, but more active in affecting cytokine production. Some AGP glycoforms had opposite immunomodulatory effects. A new approach was developed in order to clarify the role of carbohydrate chains in the biological activity of AGP. A pool of N-linked oligosaccharide chains were attached to a soluble polyacrylamide matrix. This 'pseudoglycoprotein' was similar to AGP in its molecular weight; in its relative amounts of tetra-, tri-, and bi-antennary chains; and in the content of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-sialylated-oligosaccharides. This pseudo-AGP displayed a similar activity to its parent AGP in the biological tests. Analytical flow cytometry of leukocyte subpopulation from human peripheral blood showed that monocytes and granulocytes but not lymphocytes were the main targets for the binding of AGP and pseudo-AGP. This binding was inhibited by synthetic glycoconjugates containing mannose or sialic acid. The binding curve data suggested that there are two monocyte and granulocyte populations. These may have different carbohydrate specificities. All the evidence provided by these studies indicate that it is the carbohydrate chains on AGP that are important in modulating the immune system and not the AGP molecule itself.

Lectin-like receptor for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in the epithelium of the rat prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

A receptor for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms AGP-B and AGP-C in the epithelium of the rat prostate gland and seminal vesicles is described. The interaction between AGP-glycoforms and their receptor is a lectin-like interaction confirmed by inhibition of the binding by mannose and N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine. In vitro the receptor was also inhibited by the steroid hormones cortisone, aldosterone, progesterone, and estradiol, but not by testosterone. A significant regional variation in the expression of AGP-lectin receptor and in the localization of AGP was seen in rat prostate and seminal vesicles. The localization of the AGP lectin receptor is compared to the localization of glycoprotein AGP, and small differences are found. It is proposed the AGP receptors in the prostate and seminal vesicles belong to a group of lectins in the control of differentiation and organ formation.

Two lectin-like receptors for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in mouse testis.

Three glycoforms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were biotinylated to examine their binding in mouse testis by light microscopy. The transition from one stage to another in the spermatogenic cycle is marked with an appearance of a receptor for the Concanavalin A (Con A) non-reactive glycoform AGP-A in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes, young spermatids and Sertoli cells. This receptor disappears in the late stages of the spermatids. The Con-A intermediately reactive and the Con-A reactive glycoforms, AGP-B and AGP-C, showed weak reaction in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells and, at the last stages in the spermatogenic cycle, a very strong reaction in the late elongated spermatids and the apical extensions of Sertoli cells. The interactions are lectin-like as confirmed by inhibition with simple sugars. In addition, the bindings were inhibited by steroid hormones. AGP-A was inhibited by testosterone, oestradiol and progesterone, while AGP-B and AGP-C were inhibited by mannose, GlcNAc, cortisone, aldosterone, oestradiol and progesterone. The receptors and the corresponding AGP glycoforms may be adhesion molecules between Sertoli cells and the spermatogenic cells and may have a function as a regulatory factor for spermatozoa development.

Appearance and cellular distribution of lectin-like receptors for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in the developing rat testis.

A histochemical avidin-biotin technique with three different alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms showed pronounced alterations in the cellular localization of two alpha 1-acid glycoprotein lectin-like receptors during cell differentiation in the developing rat testis. The binding of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms to their receptors is inhibited by steroids. Testosterone, oestradiol and progesterone inhibited the binding of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoform A to its receptor. Cortisone, aldosterone, oestradiol and progesterone inhibited the binding of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms B and C to their receptor. A difference in the cellular content of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein receptors separates the spermatocytes and the early spermatids from the late spermatids. The difference in receptor composition implies a difference in the effect of different steroid hormones. The Leydig cells contained alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and lectin-like receptors for one of the glycoforms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from birth. The interaction between alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms and their receptors may modulate the actions of testosterone and other steroids in the testis.

Glycoforms of serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein as markers of inflammation and cancer.

alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a serum acute phase glycoprotein which possesses five N-linked complex type heteroglycan side chains which may be present as bi-, tri- and tetraantennary structures. Depending upon the content of biantennary structure on AGP, up to four glycoforms of AGP are present in serum. These glycoforms can be easily estimated in body fluids by means of crossed affinity-immunoelectrophoresis (CAIE) with the lectin, Concanavalin A (Con A). Con A selectively binds biantennary structures; the more biantennary structures on AGP, the stronger the binding. In acute inflammation, a relative increase of AGP glycoforms with biantennary units is observed-a type I glycosylation change. In some chronic inflammatory states there is an relative decrease of AGP glycoforms with biantennary heteroglycans-a type II glycosylation change. Moreover, in certain other states such as pregnancy, estrogen administration or liver damage, type II glycosylation changes are also seen. A detailed analysis of the clinical applications of the assessment of AGP glycoforms in sera of patients with rheumatic diseases, AIDS and various types of cancers is presented. Accumulated data shows that AGP glycoforms may be very useful in the detection of intercurrent infections in the course of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or myeloblastic leukaemia, and in the detection of secondary infections in human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals. AGP glycoforms are also very useful in differentiation between various forms of trophoblastic disease and are helpful in monitoring the treatment of these patients. Finally, AGP glycoforms provide valuable information for differentiation between primary and secondary liver cancer.

α1-Acid glycoprotein binds human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein viaN-linked glycans

In the present study, we demonstrate a specific low-affinity interaction between recombinant precursor gp160 (rgp160) or surface unit gp120 (rgp120) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), a human glycoprotein displaying complex type N-glycans. Binding of rgp160/rgp120 to agarose-coupled AGP was dose-dependent, saturable, calcium-, pH- and temperature-dependent. Binding was inhibited by soluble AGP, asialo-AGP, fetuin, beta-D-GlcNAc47-BSA, alpha-D-Man20-BSA, mannan, complex-type asialo-agalacto-tetraanternary precursor oligosaccharide from human AGP and oligomannose 9 from porcine thyroglobulin; fully deglycosylated AGP was not inhibitory. The three AGP glycoforms separated on immobilized ConA bound rgp160 to the same extent as did unfractionated AGP. These findings extend our previous results on the carbohydrate-binding properties of HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoprotein in that they demonstrate the involvement of AGP glycan moieties in the binding to rgp160/rgp120. Preincubation of rgp160 with AGP or mannan significantly reduced its binding to monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), suggesting that AGP may play a role in preventing binding of soluble or virus-bound Env glycoprotein to CD4+ monocytic cells.

Glycoforms of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in sera of human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.

In acute infections thus far studied, there is a relative increase in plasma protein glycoforms rich in biantennary complex type N-glycans (type I), while in some diseases with chronic inflammatory changes, there is increase in glycoforms with more branched N-glycans (type II). In sera of 109 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, 38 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and 44 healthy subjects, the composition of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) glycoforms was studied using crossed immunoaffinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A as a ligand. In patients in CDC classifications I, II, and III, distribution of AGP glycoforms was analogous to that in normal subjects. Type I alterations were observed in patients in group IV who had no signs of arthritis. Type II changes, analogous to those found in rheumatoid arthritis, were seen in group IV patients who developed arthritis. Most significant type I changes were associated with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (specificity, 100%; sensitivity, 96%).

Differential secretion of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein occurs in the Golgi complex of isolated rat hepatocytes. Evidence of partial retention in the Golgi.

Using weakly basic amines, we investigated the step at which the secretion kinetics of concanavalin-A-retained and nonretained alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms diverge in isolated rat hepatocytes. Both chloroquine and primaquine, whose action on protein secretion is targeted to terminal domains of the Golgi apparatus, cancelled the kinetic difference without influencing carbohydrate chain sialylation. To test for a possible interaction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein with Golgi membranes, we also permeabilized control and primaquine-treated hepatocytes, as well as purified Golgi preparations, with saponin. In each case, we found that alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was associated with Golgi membranes, the association being more marked in primaquine-treated cells than in control cells. Membrane-bound alpha 1-acid glycoprotein appeared to be preferentially retained on concanavalin A. Such retention could account for the divergent secretion kinetics of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein glycoforms.