The effect of seromucoid on coagulation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect on coagulation of alpha-acid-glycoprotein, one of the acute-phase reactants, the blood level of which is elevated in malignant disease and various acute conditions. Alpha-acid-glycoprotein was obtained from serum and plasma of normal volunteers. The amount obtainable from serum was greater than that obtained from plasma (43 mg/dl v. 22 mg/dl), and differences were noted in the molecular weight of the two preparations; alpha-acid-glycoprotein from serum had a molecular weight of 55 000, while that from plasma appeared to have a molecular weight of 81 000. The two preparations were identical in their reactivity towards anti-alpha-acid-glycoprotein. Alpha-acid-glycoprotein markedly shortened the partial thromboplastin time (PTT), but no effect on prothrombin index was noted. At those concentration which shortened the PTT, the preparation was able partially to reverse the anticoagulant activity of heparin. The possibility that this protein plays a role in the aetiology of coagulation disorders in cancer is discussed.

Serological studies of seromucoids from normal subjects and patients with malignant and non-malignant diseases.

During investigations of serum from patients with carcinoma, elevated levels of two proteins were observed. The larger (MW approximately 44,000) was identified as (alpha-acid glycoprotein. The smaller MW approximately 20,000) has not yet been identified. Further investigation of alpha-acid-glycoprotein-containing seromucoid showed that many red blood cell and tissue antigens were present, for example, I, i, P1, Tja (P+P+Pk), H, A, B, Lea, Leb1, M and N. Differences in antigen content between normal serum and serum from carcinoma patients could be demonstrated quantitatively and qualitatively. Seromucoid preparations from patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma inhibited phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation more often than seromucoid preparations from normal subjects.