|
|
||||||||
Enzymes and Protein Markers |
a Author for correspondence. Fax 32 16 332896; e-mail xavier.bossuyt{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Over the last few years, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has
emerged as a novel technique for the rapid and effective separation of
serum proteins (see accompanying paper) (5)(6)(7)(8)(9). A process
similar to immunofixation but adapted for capillary electrophoresis
systems has recently been developed (10). This process,
called immunofixation electrophoresis/subtraction (IF-ES), involves
incubation of patient serum with Sepharose beads to which a specific
binder for a heavy (IgG, IgA, or IgM) or a light (
and
) chain is
attached. During the incubation period, proteins that bind specifically
to the bead-linked antibodies are retained by the solid phase. After
the beads settle, capillary electrophoresis is performed on the
supernatant. The monoclonal protein underlying the abnormal
peak is identified by comparing the subtracted capillary
electropherogram with the control electropherogram (incubated with
solid phase without linked antibody). The specificity of the
immunospecific binder that caused the disappearance of the
monoclonal peak identifies the paraprotein.
Recently, a multichannel automated system for CZE of human serum proteins (Paragon 2000 clinical capillary electrophoresis system, Beckman Instruments) became commercially available. The system is designed for routine analysis in clinical laboratories and allows rapid, reproducible, and sensitive separations. The system is also available with an automated IF-ES-based procedure for classifying paraproteins. We compared the Paragon 2000 CZE with AGE and CAE for the detection and identification of paraproteins. To gauge the capacity of the IF-ES procedure to classify paraproteins, the procedure developed for the Paragon 2000 CZE system was compared with immunofixation and/or immunoelectrophoresis, which are considered reference methods.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
other analyses
IgG, IgA, IgM, and
- and
-light chains were determined by
endpoint nephelometry on a Behring BNA instrument (Behringwerke). All
reagents and calibrators were from Behring (Behringwerke).
| Results and Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
and 1
), 9 with IgA (3
IgA
and 6 IgA
) monoclonal paraproteins, 40 with IgG (25 IgG
and 15 IgG
) monoclonal paraproteins, and 4 with IgM (3 IgM
and 1
IgM
) monoclonal paraproteins. In addition to the monoclonal
proteins, free monoclonal light chains were present in 1, 3, and 12
specimens of the IgM, IgA, and IgG paraprotein groups, respectively.
|
The results of the method comparison between CZE and conventional
electrophoresis for paraprotein detection and identification is
summarized in Table 1
. Nephelometric quantitation was performed on each
sample. Although such quantitations do not distinguish between
monoclonal and polyclonal immunoglobulins, they allow the division of a
group of known paraproteins into subgroups and provide an estimation of
the amount of paraprotein in individual cases. Overall detection of
paraproteins was 93% for CZE, 86% for AGE, and 74.5% for CAE.
Correct identification by IF-ES was achieved in 91% of the cases
studied. Discrepancies between the different techniques pertained to:
(a) the detection of "hidden" paraproteins, i.e.,
paraproteins that cannot be detected by conventional CAE and AGE, but
that can be revealed by immunoelectrophoresis and/or
immunofixation; (b) the detection in serum of free
monoclonal light chains of the same type as the characterized
paraprotein; and (c) the electrophoretic migration of the
paraproteins. For each paraprotein group, discordances between the
different techniques are reviewed below.
The IgA paraprotein series consisted of nine specimens. The group
included two specimens with hidden paraproteins not detected by either
CAE or AGE. Both paraproteins were small paraproteins, as illustrated
by the nephelometric quantitation, that showed <5 g/L. One of these
paraproteins was unambiguously detected and identified by CZE.
Immunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of free monoclonal light
chains in three of the nine specimens. AGE and CAE failed to detect
these free light chains. With CZE, the free light chains were suggested
in one specimen. In this specimen, incubation with the light chain
binder, but not with the heavy chain binder, caused the complete
disappearance of the monoclonal peak (data not shown). In another
specimen, we found that the electrophoretic migration of the IgA
paraprotein differed between CZE and the traditional electrophoretic
techniques. In CZE, the monoclonal protein migrated between transferrin
and the
-globulins (Fig. 1
C), whereas it migrated between the
1-globulin and
2-globulin fraction
with AGE and CAE (Fig. 1
, A and B).
|
Forty specimens containing IgG paraproteins were studied. The group
included two hidden paraprotein samples that were not detected by CZE,
AGE, or CAE. Because these paraproteins could not be identified by CZE,
they could not be characterized by IF-ES. In four other specimens, a
small monoclonal band that was obvious with CZE and AGE could not be
unambiguously detected by CAE. This shows that CZE and AGE are more
sensitive methods than CAE for detection of monoclonal bands. In
another specimen, the paraprotein could be detected with CZE, but the
light chain type could not be identified with the immunosubtraction
technique. In 12 of the 40 IgG monoclonal paraprotein specimens
studied, immunoelectrophoresis revealed the presence of free monoclonal
light chains. With CZE, these free light chains were detected in only
one specimen. In this sample, the electropherogram showed a second
small peak (Fig. 2
A, arrow) that disappeared after incubation with the light chain
binder (Fig. 2C
) but not after the incubation with the heavy chain
binder (Fig. 2B
, arrow).
|
The IgM paraproteins studied in all four specimens studied could be detected and identified by CZE. CAE failed to detect paraproteins in two specimens. In one specimen, additional free light chains were present. These free light chains could not be detected by CZE, AGE, or CAE.
CZE could not detect or identify four of the five light chain diseases
that were studied. A representative CZE electropherogram is shown in
Fig. 3
. It shows an abnormally high peak at the complement position
(A) that disappeared after incubation with the light chain binder (B).
Immunoelectrophoresis confirmed the presence of light chains. AGE
detected light chains in only one of these four specimens. None of the
light chain diseases was detected by CAE. These findings suggest that
CZE is more sensitive than AGE for the detection of light chain
disease.
|
In addition to monoclonal paraproteins, we also investigated four
biclonal disease specimens. Three biclonal paraproteins (an IgG
in
combination with an IgA
, an IgG
in combination with an IgM
,
and an IgG
in combination with an IgA
) were detected and
correctly identified by CZE (data not shown). In one specimen, AGE
detected two bands, immunofixation detected two IgG
bands, and
CZE/IF-ES detected only one IgG
peak. The CZE electropherogram of
this specimen is shown in Fig. 4
, and the immunofixation is shown in Fig. 5
.
|
|
Detection and identification of oligoclonal banding was evaluated in three samples. One sample had three bands on AGE but only one, unidentifiable band on CZE. In two other specimens, CZE detected and identified three bands, whereas immunofixation revealed and characterized four small bands.
We have also compared paraprotein detection by CZE and CAE in 524 specimens from hospitalized patients. Of the 524 specimens, 50 monoclonal components were detected by both electrophoretic methods. CZE revealed 10 additional patients with an M-component that were missed by CAE. This group included patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (two patients), Hodgkin's lymphoma (two patients), Still's disease (one patient), infections (three patients), and cardiovascular problems (two patients, >68 years of age). This again illustrates that CAE is less sensitive than CZE for the detection of faint monoclonal bands.
The performance of CZE for paraprotein screening is superior to the performance of CAE and comparable with the performance of AGE. CZE, therefore, constitutes a good alternative to AGE because it has the advantages of automation and high precision (see accompanying paper) (5).
Paraproteins detected by CZE were correctly classified as IgG, IgA,
IgM,
, or
by the IF-ES procedure. No reagents are available for
identification of the rare cases of monoclonal IgD and IgE by the IF-ES
procedure. A small percentage of faint monoclonal bands was missed by
CZE. These bands were also missed by AGE and CAE and were revealed only
by immunofixation. The latter technique remains the most sensitive
(reference) method. Although small monoclonal components are commonly
part of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or reflect
the presence of an infectious disease, they may also be part of
clinically important processes such as B-cell lymphoma, leukemia,
chemical immunosuppression, or myeloma (light-chain disease). Early
detection of malignant B-cell proliferation requires the greatest
sensitivity. Small monoclonal components can also be the cause of
amyloidosis or polyneuropathy, or they may be the clue to autoimmune or
immune complex diseases (12). Therefore, in situations
involving clinical suspicion, immunofixation is the method of choice
because a small monoclonal band can hide in normal bands.
CZE also missed the presence in serum of free monoclonal light chains of the same type as of the characterized paraprotein. However, the detection of these free light chains as an indicator of clinical activity, organ involvement, or relapse of disease is of no value (13). Moreover, the preferred means of detecting free light chains is to analyze urine rather than serum samples (14). Therefore, a failure to detect free light chains in serum is not clinically relevant. It should be pointed out, however, that the Paragon 2000 cannot be used for urine analysis at the present time, and that an immunofixation method must be maintained for the analysis of urine specimens.
The sample incubation and running temperature in the Paragon 2000 was 24 °C. Therefore, monoclonal cryoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures >24 °C might be missed. Presently, there is no means of handling samples to avoid the loss of cryoglobulins when the Paragon 2000 is used.
Introduction of the automated CZE for paraprotein detection and identification in the clinical laboratory will result in labor savings and improved turnaround time, especially when CZE replaces immunoelectrophoresis. When equipped with a bar code reader and a bidirectional interface, CZE allows positive sample identification, thus avoiding sample identification errors in the laboratory.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
1 Nonstandard abbreviations: AGE, agarose gel electrophoresis; CAE, cellulose acetate electrophoresis; CZE, capillary zone electrophoresis; and IF-ES, immunofixation electrophoresis/subtraction. ![]()
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
- and
-immunoglobulin levels. J Clin Lab Immunol 1988;26:141-146.
[ISI][Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:
![]() |
P. Luraschi, I. Infusino, I. Zorzoli, G. Merlini, C. Fundaro and, and C. Franzini Heavy Chain Disease Can Be Detected by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Clin. Chem., January 1, 2005; 51(1): 247 - 249. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Gay-Bellile, D. Bengoufa, P. Houze, D. Le Carrer, M. Benlakehal, B. Bousquet, B. Gourmel, and T. Le Bricon Automated Multicapillary Electrophoresis for Analysis of Human Serum Proteins Clin. Chem., November 1, 2003; 49(11): 1909 - 1915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Salomo, P. Gimsing, and L. B. Nielsen Simple Method for Quantification of Bence Jones Proteins Clin. Chem., December 1, 2002; 48(12): 2202 - 2207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
X. Bossuyt and G. Marien False-Negative Results in Detection of Monoclonal Proteins by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis: A Prospective Study Clin. Chem., August 1, 2001; 47(8): 1477 - 1479. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. L. Arranz-Pena, M. Gonzalez-Sagrado, A. M. Olmos-Linares, N. Fernandez-Garcia, and F. J. Martin-Gil Interference of Iodinated Contrast Media in Serum Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Clin. Chem., May 1, 2000; 46(5): 736 - 737. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
X. Bossuyt, A. Mewis, and N. Blanckaert Interference of Radio-opaque Agents in Clinical Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Clin. Chem., January 1, 1999; 45(1): 129 - 131. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
X. Bossuyt, G. Schiettekatte, A. Bogaerts, and N. Blanckaert Serum protein electrophoresis by CZE 2000 clinical capillary electrophoresis system Clin. Chem., April 1, 1998; 44(4): 749 - 759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |