ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN ACUTE-PHASE PLASMA-PROTEINS IN AN ACUTE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE AND IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS USING 2-DIMENSIONAL GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS

Two-dimensional (2-D) gel analysis was used to examine differences in the levels of 19 plasma proteins: before and after an acute inflammato ry reaction (parenteral typhoid vaccination) in normal subjects, betwe en rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and normals and in RA patients t reated with tenidap (120 mg) and piroxicam (20 mg). Typhoid vaccinatio n increased levels of SAA, haptoglobin alpha(1), haptoglobin alpha(2), haptoglobin beta and alpha(1)-anti-chymotrypsin but decreased transth yretin and apolipoprotein E. In RA patients, serum amyloid A (SAA), ha ptoglobin alpha(2), haptoglobin beta, alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin and C3 proactivator levels were elevated while apolipoprotein A-I, apolipopr otein A-IV, transthyretin, Gc-globulin, alpha(2)-HS glycoprotein, alph a(2)-macroglobulin and alpha(1)-B glycoprotein levels were decreased, compared to normals. Compared to piroxicam, tenidap lowered levels of alpha(1)-antiprotease and SAA but raised the levels of transthyretin, Gc-globulin, alpha(2)-HS-glycoprotein and alpha(2)-macroglobulin in RA . patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) could not be quantified on 2-D ge ls but, when measured by rate nephelometry, levels were reduced after treatment with tenidap compared to piroxicam. The general pattern of t he acute phase protein response to an acute inflammatory response to t yphoid vaccination is similar to that in the chronic inflammatory cond ition, RA. The impact of tenidap on both positive and negative acute-p hase proteins in RA patients could clearly be distinguished from that of piroxicam.