Changes of glycosylation of serum proteins in Sjogren's syndrome: Correlation with interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-2 receptor

A strong increase of the affinity for concanavalin ii (Con A) of serum alph a(2)-macroglobulin, a non-acute-phase protein, was observed by lectin blott ing in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS), On the contrary, the total Co n A reactivity of serum proteins, measured by enzyme-linked lectin assay, w as not augmented in SS, compared with normal donors, probably because posit ive changes of certain proteins were balanced by negative changes of others , as suggested by lectin blotting analysis. However, a significant increase of total Con A reactivity occurred in subjects with increased serum concen trations of soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, compared with patients wit h normal concentrations of this marker of disease activity. On the other ha nd, the same parameter did not appear to be different in patients with norm al or increased serum concentrations of IL-6, indicating that this cytokine was not probably responsible for the changes of glycosylation described he re.