Microchip gel electrophoretic analysis of perchloric acid-soluble serum proteins in systemic inflammatory disorders.

Perchloric acid (PCA) precipitation is a well-known method for the separation of heavily glycosylated proteins and for reducing the masking effect of major serum proteins. The aim of this study is to characterize PCA-soluble serum proteins in healthy individuals and in patients with systemic inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease and sepsis. A PCA precipitation protocol was prepared and adapted to the analytical methods. After PCA treatment of the serum, the soluble proteins in the supernatant were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and by microchip gel electrophoresis (MGE). Characteristic changes of the electrophoretic patterns of the PCA-soluble fractions were observed. Four characteristic bands (at similar to 11, similar to 65, similar to 85, and similar to 120 kDa) with varying intensity were detected by MGE. The proportion of the similar to 65, similar to 85, and similar to 120 kDa bands were significantly higher in systemic inflammatory conditions than in healthy individuals (p < 0.001), and characteristic patterns were observed in patients with acute inflammation. The marked differences in the acid-soluble protein patterns, which were observed in patients with ongoing systemic inflammation, might be a good indicator of inflammation. The MGE analysis is a fast screening and quantification method for the detection of characteristic changes among acid-soluble serum proteins.