Effects of the Sikle Cell (S) Gene on Serum Protein Profile

ABSTRACT

Total serum protein, albumin, total globulin levels, albumin/globulin ratio as well as the various globulin fractions were determined in 96 subjects, 39 are sickle cell (SS) disease subjects (steady state), and 30 are heterozygous sickle cell (AS) trait and 27 normal control subjects. The mean standard deviation of total protein was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in sickle cell disease when compared with heterozygous AS and normal controls. There was also significant difference (P<0.05) between AS and AA. The albumin level in sickle cell disease was significantly higher than in the other two groups. There was hyperglobuneamia observed in SS individuals with a mean ±SD of 32.6±10.0g/L when compared with AS and AA subjects with a mean ±SD of 30.8± 5.9g/L and 26.7±6.2g/L respectively. There also exist a significant difference between AS and AA (P <0.005). The Albumin/Globulin ratio is significantly lower (P <0.05) in SS than the other two groups but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) observed between AS and AA controls. The globulin fractions were observed to be higher in AS individuals except the gamma globulin which is higher in SS subjects. The hyperproteineamia as a result of the hyperglobulineamia is due to the globulin fraction present in the serum of SS individuals. The AS individuals are protected from various infectious disease conditions because of the high acute phase reactants and ß- globulin present in their serum as these has been observed to exert some immunioregulatory role