Glycosylation of transferrin in Alzheimer's disease and alcohol-induced dementia

Transferrin is a glycosylated metal-binding serum protein. Carbohydrate-def icient transferrin (CDT) is a marker of recent and heavy alcohol intake. A genetic variant of transferrin, TfC2, occurs with increased frequency in pa tients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence the question arose whether, in addition to an altered amino acid sequence, there could also be a differenc e in the glycosylation state of transferrin in patients with dementia. Seru m samples of 37 AD and 13 Alcohol-induced dementia patients as well as 10 h ealthy controls were analyzed for abnormal Tf variants, using isoelectric f ocusing followed by blotting with anti-Tf antibodies. This allowed the dire ct visualization of glycosylation variants of transferrin, and assessment o f any increase in underglycosylated forms (di-, mono- and asialo transferri n).