Quantitation of plasma levels of tetranectin--effects of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, treatment with L-asparaginase and liver cirrhosis
Kluft, C.; Los, P.; Clemmensen, I.; Brommer, E.J.; Gevers Leuven, J.A.; Boks, A.L.; Vellenga, E.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis 62(2): 792-796
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-6245 PMID: 2814926 Document Number: 345309
Tetranectin is a tetrameric protein that binds to kringle 4 of plasminogen. Increase of electrophoretic mobility of the otherwise slowly migrating tetranectin in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate was used to develop a reproducible electroimmunoassay to quantify plasma levels. Plasma levels in normals were found within narrow limits of 100 +/- 16 (SD)%, (100% = 0.15 mumol/l). There was no difference between males and females, smokers and non-smokers, and there were no significant changes with age from 20 to 49 years. Patients with severe liver cirrhosis showed a large variation in plasma tetranectin levels but no systematic or average reduction, in contrast to strong reductions in plasma levels of other proteins. Patients treated with L-asparaginase showed a gradual reduction in time in plasma levels of various proteins, though tetranectin showed no significant reduction. It is concluded that tetranectin can be assayed reproducibly in plasma and has a well regulated plasma level. This level is not sensitive to conditions with reductions in synthesis of many proteins, such as during cirrhosis of the liver and during L-asparaginase therapy. The reductions in plasma levels during the use of oral contraceptives and pregnancy indicate involvement of sex steroids in the metabolism of tetranectin.