ABSTRACT
Alterations in the pattern of protein glycosylation have been described during inflammation. In chronic parasitic and tumoral diseases we have reported an increase in the proportion of serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules possessing an altered Fab glycosylation pattern designated asymmetric antibodies. The alteration results in augmented concanavalin A affinity and functional univalence of the antibody. In addition, Fc agalactosylation has been described as occurring in chronically autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to evaluate by analyzing sera whether during an acute inflammatory response in rats produced by subcutaneous inoculation of turpentine oil, there was an alteration in the synthesis and glycosylation of IgG (as revealed by concanavalin A binding). We found that during acute inflammation there was a decrease in the synthesis of IgG which was not affected by prior oral administration of dexamethasone; however, the turpentine-induced increase in IgG binding to concanavalin A was found to be inhibited upon prior administration of the anti-inflammatory agent. As with turpentine, the corticoid used induced an increase in the interleukin-6 levels detected in sera by ELISA. Although we have described an improvement in asymmetric antibody synthesis by low dose of interleukin-6 previously, here we found no correlation between the observed glycosylation pattern of IgG and interleukin-6 concentration assessed in sera of treated rats, probably due to a different dexamethasone mediated pathway (AU)#S#a