Leucocyte-associated plasma proteins. Association of prealbumin, albumin, orosomucoid, alpha 1-antitrypsin, transferrin and haptoglobin with human lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and a promyelocytic leukaemic cell line (HL-60)

Seventy-Five Years of Research on Protein Binding

This review summarizes evidence that the impact of protein binding of the activity of antibiotics is multifaceted and more complex than indicated by the numerical value of protein binding alone. A plethora of studies has proven that protein binding of antibiotics matters, as the free fraction only is antibacterially active and governs pharmacokinetics. Several studies have indicated that independent from protein binding of immunoglobulin G, albumin, α1-acid-glycoprotein, and pulmonary surfactant acted synergistically with antibacterial agents, thus suggesting that some intrinsic properties of serum proteins may have mediated serum-antibiotic synergisms. It has been demonstrated that IgG and albumin permeabilized Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and facilitated the uptake of poorly penetrating antibiotics. Alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein and pulmonary surfactant also exerted a permeabilizing activity, but proof that this property results in a sensitizing effect is missing. The permeabilizing effect of serum proteins may explain why serum-antibiotic synergisms do not represent a general phenomenon but are limited to specific drug-bug associations only. Although evidence has been generated to support the hypothesis that native serum proteins interact synergistically with antibiotics, systematic and well-controlled studies have to be performed to substantiate this phenomenon. The interactions between serum proteins and bacterial surfaces are driven by physicochemical forces. However, preparative techniques, storage conditions, and incubation methods have a significant impact on the intrinsic activities of these serum proteins affecting serum-antibiotic synergisms, so these techniques have to be standardized; otherwise, contradictory data or even artifacts will be generated.

Flow cytometric detection of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein on feline circulating leucocytes

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) can be detected on the membrane of feline circulating leucocytes.

DESIGN

The presence of AGP on circulating leucocytes was investigated in both clinically healthy cats and cats with different diseases. A group of feline coronavirus (FCoV)-positive cats, comprising cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and cats not affected by FIP but seropositive for FCoV, were included in this study because the serum concentration of AGP increases during FCoV infection.

PROCEDURE

Flow cytometry (using an anti-feline AGP antibody), serum protein electrophoresis, routine haematology and measurement of the serum AGP concentration were performed using blood samples from 32 healthy cats (19 FCoV-seropositive), 13 cats with FIP and 12 with other diseases (6 FCoV-seropositive). The proportion of cats with AGP-positive leucocytes in the different groups (e.g. controls vs sick; FIP vs other diseases, etc.) or in cats with different intensities of inflammatory response was compared using a Chi-square test.

RESULTS

AGP-positive leucocytes were found in 23% of cats. Compared with controls, the proportion of patients with positive granulocytes and monocytes was higher among sick cats (especially cats with diseases other than FIP) and cats with high serum AGP concentration, but not in cats with leucocytosis or that were FCoV-seropositive.

CONCLUSION

AGP-positive leucocytes can be found in feline blood, especially during inflammation. Conversely, no association between AGP-positive leucocytes and FIP was found. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism responsible for this finding and its diagnostic role in cats with inflammation.

Structural and drug-binding properties of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein in reverse micelles

Alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a glycoprotein that consists of 183 amino acid residues and five carbohydrate chains and binds to neutral and basic drugs. We examined the structural properties and ligand-binding capacity of AGP in interactions with reverse micelles. Also, detailed information was obtained by comparing several different states of AGP. Interaction with reverse micelles induced a unique conformational transition (beta-sheet to alpha-helices) in AGP and decreased the binding capacity for the basic drug, chlorpromazine and the steroid hormone, progesterone to AGP. These structural conformations are very similar to those observed under conditions of acidity and high ionic strength (pH 2.0, 1.5 M NaCl). This structure seems to be an intermediate between the native state and the denatured state, possibly a molten globule. The present results suggest that when AGP interacts with the biomembrane, it undergoes a structural transition to a unique structure that differs from the native and denatured states and has a reduced ligand-binding capacity.

Expression of the alpha-1-antitrypsin gene in mononuclear phagocytes of normal and alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficient individuals

To evaluate the contribution of mononuclear phagocytes, and particularly alveolar macrophages, to alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) production in normal and alpha 1AT-deficient individuals, Northern analysis with a human alpha 1AT complementary DNA was used to demonstrate that alpha 1AT messenger RNA (mRNA) can be detected in liver, blood monocytes, and alveolar macrophages. Quantification of alpha 1AT mRNA expression demonstrated that: (a) type PiMM monocytes and alveolar macrophages expressed, respectively, 200-fold and 70-fold less alpha 1AT mRNA per cell than the liver; (b) the level of expression of the alpha 1AT gene was increased during the in vitro maturation of blood monocytes; and (c) blood monocyte and alveolar macrophage levels of expression of the alpha 1AT gene were the same in PiMM and PiZZ individuals. However, the amount of newly synthesized alpha 1AT secreted by ZZ alveolar macrophages was 10 times lower than that secreted by MM alveolar macrophages. Thus, mononuclear phagocytes of PiZZ individuals express a secretory defect in alpha 1AT in a fashion similar to hepatocytes. Not only do mononuclear phagocytes provide a readily accessible cell to evaluate the regulation of alpha 1AT gene expression, but these cells may contribute to the levels of alpha 1AT present in the lower respiratory tract in the normal and ZZ states.