Altered immunoglobulin G glycosylation in patients with isolated hyperprolactinaemia

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 26;16(2):e0247805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247805. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Prolactin is a peptide hormone produced in the anterior pituitary, which increase in several physiological and pathological situations. It is unclear if hyperprolactinaemia may affect glycosylation of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Twenty-five patients with hyperprolactinemia and 22 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The groups had similar age and gender distribution. A panel of hormonal and haematological analyses, creatinine, glucose, liver enzymes and immunoglobulins were measured by routine clinical methods. IgG was purified from serum by Protein G Sepharose. Sialic acid was released from IgG by use of neuraminidase followed by quantification on high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Tryptic glycopeptides of IgG was analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Hormone and immunoglobulin levels were similar in the two groups, except for IgA and prolactin. Significantly higher IgG1 and IgG2/3 galactosylation was found in the patient group with hyperprolactinaemia compared to controls. (A significant correlation between prolactin and IgG2/3 galactosylation (Rs 0.61, p<0.001) was found for samples with prolactin values below 2000 mIU/L. The relative amount of sialylated and bisecting glycans on IgG did not differ between patients and controls. The four macroprolactinaemic patients showed decreased relative amount of bisecting IgG2/3 glycans. Hyperprolactinaemia was found to be associated with increased galactosylation of IgG1and IgG2/3. This may have impact on IgG interactions with Fc-receptors, complement and lectins, and consequently lead to an altered immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange / methods
  • Female
  • Glycopeptides / analysis
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Hyperprolactinemia / blood*
  • Hyperprolactinemia / epidemiology
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / blood
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin G / isolation & purification
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / analysis
  • Polysaccharides / analysis
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Sweden / epidemiology

Substances

  • Glycopeptides
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Polysaccharides
  • glycosylated IgG
  • Prolactin
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.