Total protein plasma

The concentration of total protein in human plasma is approximately 7.0-7.5 g/dL and comprises the major part of the solids of the plasma. The proteins of the plasma are actually a complex mixture that includes not only simple proteins but also conjugated proteins such as glycoproteins and various types of lipoproteins. Thousands of antibodies are present in human plasma, though the amount of any one antibody is usually quite low under normal circumstances. The relative dimensions and molecular masses of some of the most important plasma proteins are shown in Figure 50-1. 

A higher concentration of red blood cells, total protein and leukotriene B4 has been measured in the lungs of athletes during severe exercise (i.e. high levels of pulmonary capillary pressures) compared to controls, indicating an altered integrity of the air-to-blood barrier [155]. In addition, an increased absorption rate and plasma Cmax of inhaled terbutaline during submaximal... 

Quantitatively, proteins are the most important part of the soluble components of the blood plasma. With concentrations of between 60 and 80 g L they constitute approximately 4% of the body s total protein. Their tasks include transport, regulation of the water balance, hemostasis, and defense against pathogens. 

In healthy men total plasma proteins were observed to rise an average of 0.53 g/100 ml and albumin 0.42 g/100 ml in specimens drawn 15-30 minutes after arising in the morning, as compared to the concentrations in specimens obtained just before arising (AlO). The rise was of the same proportion in each of the plasma protein fractions, and therefore the percentage distribution of the fractions did not change. In another study, increases of as much as 0.75 g/lOO ml in total protein were observed in active upright persons as compared to the concentration in a specimen from the subject when he was recumbent and at rest (W6). 

The rabbits had no abnormality clearly attributable to II other than purulent, Indurative myositis at the site of Injection In nine of 10 animals. Inasmuch as the solutions injected were not stated to have been sterilized, the myositis is not astonishing. The stomachs of the three dogs all had fibrosed mucous membranes at the cardiac and/or pyloric regions. The plasmas of these dogs had subnormal concentrations of albumin and total protein and low albumin globulin ratios. 

Total protein, albumin, urea (standard methods) and middle molecules (MM) were determined in citrated plasma [6]. The trypsin-like activity (TLA) of plasma was measured using the chromogenic peptide substrate (Z-glycyl-glycyl-L-arginine-4-nitroanilide) [7]. Evaluation of anti-enzymatic potential in plasma was based on concentrations of the main protease inhibitors -proteinase inhibitor (ttj-PI) and aj-macroglobulin (a -M). Student s t-test was used for statistical analysis. 

Prior to inclusion of hemosorption in therapy, all patients were in a poor condition due to severe endogenous intoxication and circulatory injury. 376 patients had a stable blood circulation and 64 had a reduced circulation of the blood. All patients had dynamic ileus, and 88 patients had acute multiple organ failure. A special feature of biochemical alterations was imbalance of the protease-inhibitor system. It was manifested in a significant elevation of TLA in blood plasma (P< 0.001) and decrease of a -PI and a -M concentrations (P< 0.001). The decrease of total protein and albumin, and the increase of urea and MM levels (P<0.001) were also characteristic for protein metabolism injury. 

Figure B3.1.4 A 15% SDS-pdyacrylamide gel assayed for proteinase inhibitors. (A) Gel stained with Coomassie brilliant blue for total protein. (B) Gel assayed for serine-proteinase inhibitory activity against trypsin. Food-grade proteinase inhibitors used in surimi manufacture were assayed. Lane 1, whey protein concentrate. Lane 2, bovine plasma proteins. Lane 3, egg white. Each lane contains 15 pg protein. Lane M, molecular weight standards. The dark bands in (B) indicate proteins with proteinase inhibitory activity. Numerous proteins in egg white (lane 3) are shown to have inhibitory activity against trypsin. Adapted from Weerasinghe (1995).

The eye globe is a hollow structure filled anteriorly by the aqueous humor and posteriorly by the vitreous. The aqueous humor (Figure 24.1) is continuously formed by the ciliary body. It is secreted into the posterior chamber from which it passes through the pupil into the anterior chamber and is drained at the anterior chamber periphery. Due to the blood aqueous barrier formed by zonulae occludentes of the nonpigmentary ciliary epithelium, macromolecules such as proteins can pass to the aqueous in very small quantities, regardless of their plasma concentrations. In humans, the aqueous humor protein level is around 20 mg/100 mL, less than 0.5% of the normal plasma total protein levels (Table 24.1) [22]. In the human eye, the rate of aqueous formation is around 2.5 pL/min, whereas in the case of rabbit eye it is... 

The BBB also prevents many macromolecules from entering the brain. The total protein content of CSF when compared to plasma is very low and markedly different from that of plasma (Table 27.1). Plasma proteins such as albumin, prothrombin, and plasminogen are... 

Vitamin D-binding protein and its associated vitamin are lost in nephrotic urine. Biochemical abnormalities in nephrotic patients (children and adults) include hypocalcemia, both total (protein-bound) and ionized hypocalciuria, reduced intestinal calcium absorption and negative calcium balance reduced plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and, surprisingly, also 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and blunted response to parathormon (PTH) administration and increased PTH levels. Clinically, both osteomalacia and hyperparathyroidism have been described in nephrotic patients, more commonly in children than in adults, but bone biopsies are commonly normal, and clinically significant bone disease is very rare in nephrotic subjects. There is, however, evidence that patients with renal failure accompanied by nephrotic range proteinuria may be particularly prone to develop renal osteodystrophy. 

At the close of the dialysis the plasma was centrifuged to remove small amounts of precipitate and the clear plasma resulting was subjected to starch-block preparative zone electrophoresis by the technique of Kunkel and Slater (15). At the close of the electrophoresis 1-cm. segments of the starch block were cut and transferred to sintered glass funnels, and the proteins were quantitatively eluted with five successive 2-ml. aliquots of 0.9% sodium chloride. The filtrates containing the protein fractions were then made up to a constant volume and mixed, and small aliquots were analyzed for total protein content by the method of Lowry et al. (18). 

Blood tests were performed and had the following results hematocrit 33% (normal is 38%-45%) reticulocyte count 2.0% (normal is 0.5%-1.5%) mean corpuscular volume 90 (normal). A decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a prothombrin time (PT) of 15 s (normal 11-13 s) were noted. A complete blood cell count values for total protein and albumin, ALT, and AST, fasting glucose, Hb-Alc, as well as amylase and lipase were within normal range. Plasma levels of vitamins A and K were below normal, and there was near absence of vitamin E. Dysmorphic red blood cells (RBC) with multiple thorny projections (acanthocytes) were present on a blood smear. All other laboratory tests and findings were within normal limits. 

Whole blood and urine pH and Pco2 are measured quantitatively by an electrode blood-gas system and HCO3 concentrations are calculated. Plasma and urine Na+ and K+ concentrations are measured by flame photometry and CP concentrations by electrotitration. Plasma total protein concentrations and urine specific gravity are measured by refractometry, and hematocrits are determined by a microcapillary reader. Urine osmolalities are determined by freezing-point osmometry. Plasma creatinine concentrations are determined by the Jaffe method without deproteiniza-tion. 

The PPB of racemic drugs is potentially stereoselective, as a consequence of chiral discriminative properties of the binding sites of the protein fractions. However, the limited available data on the binding of enantiomers indicate the differences are small (Pacifici and Viani 1992). The concentrations of total protein, albumin and a-acid glycoprotein in plasma differs slightly between human and animal species (Davies and Morris 1993). Interspecies differences in the stereoselectivity of protein binding have been reported for various drags (Lima 1988 Lin et al. 1990,1991). 

Hyperproteinemia Increase in the plasma (total) protein concen-... 

Treatment of total human plasma proteins with sodium cholate and subsequent removal resulting in remodeling of the lipoproteins. See Pownall, H.J., Remodeling of human plasma lipoproteins by detergent perturbation. Biochemistry 44, 9714-9722, 2005. 

---