Isolation, characterization, and distribution of a 24-kDa proteoglycan in the urine of cachectic cancer and AIDS patients.

Abstract

Substantial weight loss in individuals with AIDS or cancer is associated with a poor prognosis and increased mortality. We have isolated and partially characterized a proteoglycan (named azaftig) from the urine of a cancer patient experiencing weight loss. Furthermore, we have raised a polyclonal antibody to azaftig in rabbits and developed a procedure to measure the level of this proteoglycan in urine by Western blot. We report the presence of azaftig in the urine of cancer and AIDS patients experiencing weight loss, but not in the control or weight-stable subjects. The azaftig-like immunoreactivity was present in 69.2% (9/13) of patients with weight loss, but only in 27.0% (3/11) of weight-stable cancer or AIDS patients and none of the control subjects (n = 8).

• Authors: J E Figueroa, P Vijayagopal, A Prasad, D V Schapira, C Prasad
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 254 Issue 3 Pg. 642-6 (Jan 27 1999) ISSN: 0006-291X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9920793 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Chemical References

• Proteoglycans
• Chondroitin Sulfates

Topics

• Adult
• Blotting, Western
• Cachexia (complications, urine)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chondroitin Sulfates (chemistry)
• HIV Wasting Syndrome (urine)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (complications, urine)
• Proteoglycans (chemistry, isolation & purification, urine)