A Bond1, M A Kerr, F C Hay. 1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between glycosylation and immune complex formation in various disease groups. METHODS: Immune complexes and IgG were isolated from serum and their carbohydrate content evaluated in a dot-blot assay using specifically binding lectins. RESULTS: Significantly more N-acetylglucosamine was detected in complexes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in those from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, or infectious endocarditis, or from normal controls (P < 0.001). The immune complex concentration in the circulation was strongly associated with N-acetylglucosamine levels (P < 0.001 by chi-square analysis). CONCLUSION: The composition of immune complexes from RA patients is distinct in carbohydrate content from those found in other disease groups.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between glycosylation and immune complex formation in various disease groups. METHODS: Immune complexes and IgG were isolated from serum and their carbohydrate content evaluated in a dot-blot assay using specifically binding lectins. RESULTS: Significantly more N-acetylglucosamine was detected in complexes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in those from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, or infectious endocarditis, or from normal controls (P < 0.001). The immune complex concentration in the circulation was strongly associated with N-acetylglucosamine levels (P < 0.001 by chi-square analysis). CONCLUSION: The composition of immune complexes from RApatients is distinct in carbohydrate content from those found in other disease groups.