Electrophoresis of blood proteins

Proteins are the key elements of all cells and tissues of the body. They are formed by chains of amino acids. In the human body there are more than 100 kinds of protein molecules. All of them realize various functions. Among the molecules are fibrinogen, transferrin, immunoglobulins, lipoproteins, albumins and others. Isolation of protein fractions is carried out in various ways, but electrophoresis has become most popular. Let's consider its features in more detail.

General information

Totally, blood proteins form a "common protein". It, in turn, includes components such as globulins and albumins. разделяет их на эти элементы. Electrophoresis of blood proteins divides them into these elements. This method of separation made it possible to bring diagnostics to a whole new level.

Specificity

. Molecules acquire a negative or positive charge, which depends on the environment in which the electrophoresis of protein fractions of blood is performed. Their displacement is affected by the magnitude of the charge. The nature of the motion is determined by the shape and size of the molecules themselves, their weight. Elements with a positive charge have better adsorption than negative cells.

Albumins

They are considered to be the largest protein molecules among all fractions in the serum. The number of albumins reflects the protein status of many internal organs. As one of the key tasks of the molecules is the preservation of osmotic colloidal pressure. It promotes the retention of the fluid system in the bloodstream. In accordance with this, it is possible to explain the development of such pathological conditions as pulmonary edema, ascites, etc.

Globulins

They are divided into several groups. позволяет провести их количественное разделение в лаборатории. The method of electrophoresis of proteins allows for their quantitative separation in the laboratory. Among the constituents of globulins are:

1. Alpha-1. They contain elements of alpha-1-antitrypsin, as well as thyroxine-binding globulin.
2. Alpha-2. They contain parts of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, etc.
3. Beta elements. Among them, the components of complement, transferrin, beta-lipoproteins are isolated.
4. Gamma part. It contains immunoglobulins A, E, M, G, D.

с увеличением частей альфа-1 и альфа-2 указывает на начало воспалительного процесса. Electrophoresis of proteins with increasing parts of alpha-1 and alpha-2 indicates the onset of the inflammatory process.

Norm

Electrophoresis of healthy organism proteins reflects the following indices (in g / dL):

1. Albumin 3.4-5.
2. Alpha-1 globulin is from 0.1 to 0.3.
3. Alpha-2 - from 0.6 to 1.
4. Beta-globulin - from 0.7 to 1.2.
5. Gamma globulin - from 0.7 to 1.6.
6. General indicators are from 6.4 to 8.3.

Advantages

As it was said above, in medicine, quite a lot of methods are used to separate protein molecules according to various criteria. However, the most common is protein electrophoresis. фракции, содержащиеся в определенных биологических средах, могут выделяться только этим способом. The protein fractions contained in certain biological media can be released only in this way. In particular, it allows to detect paraproteins. специальный клинический способ анализа. Protein electrophoresis is a special clinical method of analysis. It makes it possible to identify any changes in molecules that can act as signs of certain pathologies. – доступный способ диагностики. Electrophoresis of protein fractions is an affordable way of diagnosis. It is performed in all laboratories. As its undoubted advantages, it is worth to call the accuracy and speed of obtaining the result. позволяет выявить изменения: Electrophoresis of serum proteins allows to detect changes:

1. In the structure of protein molecules.
2. Quantitative ratio of structural elements.

Getting the research results

Capillary electrophoresis makes it possible to identify some types of proteins. However, some molecules can not be detected by this method. An exception is albumin. For a deeper analysis, fraction electrophoresis is used. The level of these or those groups can be measured by the amount of the total protein index, multiplied by the relative percentage of each of them.

Nuances

обязательно должен выполняться одновременно с измерением содержания иммуноглобулинов М, А и G. Варианты с большей концентрацией первых двух, которые не могут отдельно исследоваться, необходимо направить на повторный анализ. Electrophoresis of proteins must necessarily be performed simultaneously with the measurement of the content of immunoglobulins M, A and G. Variants with a higher concentration of the first two, which can not be separately investigated, must be sent for reanalysis. This is necessary to exclude immunofixation of minor paraprotein groups.

Clinical picture

позволяет обнаружить начало течения патологий почек и печени, генетические деформации, формирование опухолей злокачественного характера, активацию хронических и острых инфекций. Electrophoresis of proteins can detect the onset of renal and hepatic pathology, genetic deformities, the formation of malignant tumors, the activation of chronic and acute infections. In practice, a number of "syndromes" have been identified, which shows the interpretation of the analysis:

1. The increased proportion of alpha-1 and alpha-2 globulins, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and a number of acute-phase proteins indicates the onset of an acute inflammatory process with the activation of the complement system. In carrying out a simple hematological analysis in this situation, only an increase in ESR and leukocytosis will be revealed.
2. A decrease in the absolute concentration of albumins indicates a severe liver pathology. Chronic cirrhosis and hepatitis occur with an increase in the number of gamma globulins. показывает их превышение над альбуминами, необходимо незамедлительно повторить исследование и направиться на комплексное обследование. If electrophoresis of proteins shows their excess over albumin, it is necessary to immediately repeat the study and go to a comprehensive examination.
3. Moderate increase in beta, gamma, and alpha-2 globulins with a slight decrease in albumin indicates collagenosis, chronic inflammation, malignancy of neoplasms of a benign nature, allergic reactions, autoimmune pathologies.

Nephrotic syndrome

It is diagnosed if the transcript of the study indicates an increase in the level of filtration of the protein molecules of the renal tubules and selective proteinuria. The latter is the excretion of a large number of albumins and a small number of low molecular weight globulins in the urine. Along with the progression of the syndrome, intensive synthesis of large molecules of the alpha-2-globulin group in the liver is detected. They accumulate in the blood fluid. In connection with this, such a picture is formed. The content of albumin decreases, and the amount of alpha-2-globulin increases.

Additionally

Significant protein losses are characteristic not only for nephrotic syndrome. They are noted in the case of Laell's disease, extensive burns, pathologies of the digestive system, etc. For violations in the digestive tract, the proteinogram decoding indicates a decrease in albumin content and a simultaneous increase in the percentage of all groups of globulins. The level of protein can be regulated by regular electrophoresis. It is advisable to introduce drugs that replace protein elements. With a marked decrease in gamma globulins, severe immunodeficiency of the acquired or congenital character is diagnosed. In such cases, to determine the complete clinical picture, it is recommended to additionally determine the content of immunoglobulins M, A, G.

Paraproteinemia

Electrophoresis is considered the only way to detect it. Paraproteinemia is a symptom that accompanies the progressive growth of tumors of a good and malignant nature. The accumulation of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the blood, as well as fragments of their bonds, is characteristic of myeloma and a number of leukemias. For the differentiation of paraproteins and the establishment of protein chains, it is recommended to perform a modified electrophoresis - immunofixation. For the study, helium plates with antiserum are used.

Characteristics of fractions on the electrophoretic curve

1. Transthyretin (prealbumin). It is a kidney protein. It is located under the albumin, is characterized by a short half-life. Prealbumin binds thyroid hormones, a transport protein for A-vitamin. Its content allows us to analyze the supply of proteins to peripheral tissues. With a deficiency of nutrition and hepatic pathologies, there is a decrease in its proportion.
2. Alpha-1-lipoproteins. They represent a weakly colored homogeneous region between alpha-1-globulin and albumin. The dimensions of the zone of the first are determined by the level of the other elements. In particular, it is alpha-1-antitrypsin, -fetoprotein, -microglobulin. In acute inflammation there is a visible darkening.
3. Alpha-1-antitrypsin. Its genetic variability is manifested by changes in the movement of proteins, elevated liver tests, cirrhosis. Against the background of pregnancy there is a decrease in the level.
4. Alpha-1-fetoprotein. It is a marker of congenital pathologies and hepatic tumors in prenatal diagnosis.
5. Gamma globulins. The zone is characterized by determining the properties of classes of immunoglobulin M and G.
6. Fibrinogen. It is a protein in the blood clotting system. It is located between gamma and beta globulins. In acute inflammation there is an increase in fibrinogen. With severe insufficiency in the liver, intravascular disseminated coagulation reveals a decrease in its level.

Monoclonal immunoglobulins are detected only in the presence of pathology.