Affiliations: [a] Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine, FMBA, Moscow, Russian Federation | [b] Angiogen Co. Ltd., Moscow, Russian Federation | [c] Institute of Human Morphology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation | [d] University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Eugene I. Goufman, Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine, FMBA, Moscow, Russian Federation. Tel.: +7 903 283 1825; E-mail: eugene_goufman@mail.ru
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The investigation of autoantibodies which may play a
role in the processes of angiogenesis and tumorogenesis is important in the
early diagnostis of cancer. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the levels of
autoantibodies to Glu-plasminogen (Pg) in plasma of patients with tumors. METHODS: Plasma samples from healthy volunteers were compared with
samples from patients with prostate cancer using 2D electrophoresis and
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Plasma samples from 25 patients with prostate
cancer, 15 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 29 patients
with breast cancer, and 43 healthy volunteers were tested using ELISA to
anti-Pg IgG autoantibodies. Affinity chromatography on Pg-sepharoses was
used to assess the quantity of anti-Pg IgG in control plasma and plasma of
prostate cancer patients. ATTESTAT program was used for nonparametric
analysis. RESULTS: Using 2D electrophoresis, marker spots below 50 kD were
detected in prostate cancer samples. These spots were identified as
fragments of Pg and IgG. Using affinity chromatography on Pg-sepharose, the
quantity of IgG bound to Pg versus total IgG was determined to be 9% in
control and 27% in prostate cancer samples. The frequency of occurence of
elevated levels of anti-Pg IgG was 84% in prostate cancer samples, 69%
in breast cancer samples, 40% in BPH samples, and 11% in healthy
plasma. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies to Pg may be involved in tumorogenesis
and elevated levels of anti-Pg IgG antibodies may be a risk factor for tumor
development.
Keywords: Plasminogen, autoantibodies to Pg, cancer, ELISA, biomarkers
