Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and sialidase levels in coronary heart disease

Transferrin is a N-glycosylated glycoprotein and plays an important role in iron transport from sites of absorption and storage to sites of utilizatio n. The main component of normal serum transferrin contains two biantennary glycans, each consisting of 2 mol of sialic acid (Tetrasialo transferrin). Normal serum also contains small amounts of tri- and disialotransferrin, We have undertaken this study to investigate the levels of serum carbohydrate -deficient transferrin (Desialotransferrin) and sialidase levels in patient s with coronary heart disease. In patient group, serum desialotransferrin a nd sialidase levels were found to be significantly higher than control grou p (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively), We conclude that increased activi ty of sialidase may be responsible for increased desialotransferrin in pati ents with coronary heart disease. Serum desialotransferrin levels map be us eful critaria to diagnosis and pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.