Increased alpha(3)-fucosylation of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein in Type I diabetic patients is related to vascular function

Diabetic mellitus is attended by the development of endothelial dysfunction which is suggested to be accompanied with a chronic low-degree of inflamma tion. During a chronic hepatic inflammatory response, specific changes in g lycosylation of the acute phase protein alpha (1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) c an be detected. In this report we studied the changes in glycosylation of A GP in more detail and evaluated the relation between a change in glycosylat ion of AGP and urinary albumin secretion in Type I diabetic patients. The g lycosylation of AGP, studied by crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis (CAI E) and high pH anion exchange chromatography with pulse amperometric detect ion (HPAEC-PAD), showed an increase in alpha3-fucosylation. Staining with a n antibody against sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)) implied that part of the alpha3 -fucosylation was present in a sLe(x)-conformation. In the group of Type I diabetic patients with increased urinary albumin excretion, a significant i ncrease in alpha3-fucosylation of AGP (p<0.0005) could be detected. Therefo re, the increased <alpha>3-fucosylation of AGP can be used as an additional marker for the development of vascular complications in Type I diabetic pa tients.