1. Electrophoresis and its Application for diagnosis
Clin. Chem 202
Electrophoresis and its Application for diagnosis
Ratchada Cressey, PhD

2. Principal of electrophoresis
Electrophoresis is the process of moving charged molecule in solution by applying an electric field across the mixture
Electrode
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+ -
+ +
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3. Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE)
Electrophoresis is refer to the migration of all charged solutes or particle in liquid medium under influence of an electric field

4. Serum Protein Electrophoresis

5. SPE procedure Sample preparation Gel loading Gel running
Protein staining
quantification

6. Procedure (i) Membrane and Sample preparation

7. Procedure (ii) sample application and electrophores

8. Separated protein bands can be quantified using Densitometer

9. Densitometer is one of the application of spectrophotometer
Absorbance measurement is made through a solid material,using support medium is the cuvet
Accuracy and precision are limited by variations in path length and scatter from the solid medium

10. Normal SPE Albumin 47-71% (3.63-4.91 g/dL)
Alpha-1 globulin % ( g/dL)
Alpha-2 globulin % ( g/dL)
Beta- globulin % ( g/dL)
Gamma globulin % ( g/dL)

13. Clinical Significance of Albumin
Reference range g/dL
Hyperalbuminemia dehydration
Hypoalbuminemia
Low intake, synthesis
Increase loss:
kidney; nephrotic syndrome, wound, burn
GI tract; protein-losing enteropathy
Increase catabolism

14. Clinical Significance of a1-globulin
Increased alpha 1 globulin due to increased alpha 1 antitrypsin: inflammatory/acute phase
Decreased/absent alpha1 globulin due to alpha1antitrypsin deficiency: infant with neonatal cirrhosis or child with emphysema

15. Clinical Significance of a2-globulin
Increased alpha 2 globulin due to alpha 2 macroglobulin: nephrotic sx with peripheral edema, membranous glomerulonephritis, hyperlipidemia
Decreased alpha 2 globulin due to haptoglobin: hemolytic anemia with spherocytes in PB

16. Clinical Significance of b-globulin
Increased beta globulin due to increased transferrin in iron deficiency anemia: microcytic hypochromic RBCs; third trimester of pregnancy
Increased beta-gamma with bridging: cirrhosis

17. Clinical Significance of g-globulin

18. MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY
Monoclonal peak: narrow needle-shaped “spike”
With plasma cell myeloma (IgG,IgA) or IgM type in LPL lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma
In gamma region usually IgG
In gamma, beta or even alpha 2 globulin region, usually IgA
If at application point between beta & gamma regions, IgM type

19. POLYCLONAL HYPERGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA
Caused by reactive processes
Broad asymmetric peak
Chronic infection including HIV+/AIDS
Autoimmune/collagen vascular disease: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Liver disease

20. Normal The nephrotic pattern
illustrates the long term loss of lower molecular weight proteins (Examples: albumin, IgG) and retention of higher molecular weight proteins (example alpha-2-macroglobulin)
This patient was a 39 year old female with SLE. Her daily total urinary protein loss exceeded 3700 mg. (Normal loss is less that 150 mg/day.)

21. Polyclonal gammopathy
Normal
Polyclonal gammopathy
usually occurs secondary to many chronic diseases. This patient was a 39 year old male with sarcordosis. The sequential increase of the globulin fractions illustrated "sarcoid stepping." IFE excluded the possibility of a monoclonal protein.

22. Normal
Liver disease:
Patient was a 46 year old male with end stage liver disease secondary to chronic alcohol abuse. He died 5 months after this sample was obtained.
In the cirrhotic pattern, the distinction between beta and gamma globulin is blurred and is sometimes referred to as the "beta-gamma bridge" pattern.

23. Acute inflammatory pattern
Normal
Acute inflammatory pattern
This patient was a 42 year old female who presented with a temperature of 40 degrees oC and was diagnosed with both pneumonia and pyelonephritis.
In the acute inflammatory pattern albumin and gamma globulin are decreased and alpha-2-globulin becomes very prominent. In both the strip and scan note that the intensity of the alpha-2 fraction is greater that the gamma globulin fraction.

24. Alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency
Normal
Alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency
can be congenital or acquired, typically secondary to liver or pulmonary diseases.
Congenital alpha-1-anti-trypsin deficiency is most commonly associated with early onset emphysema, pancreatic insufficiency, or cirrhosis.

25. Immunofixation Electrophoresis (IFE)
Immunofixation (IFIX) is a powerful enhancement of immunoelectrophoresis in which a series of post-electrophoretic gel slabs are layered with cellulose-acetate gels saturated with specific antibodies.
The resulting antigen-antibody complexes fixed on the second gel may then be stained, allowing sensitive and specific qualitative visual identification of paraproteins by electrophoretic position.

26. Immunofixation Electrophoresis (IFE)
Diluted patient serum is applied to each track of the gel using an application mask.
The gel is electrophoresed, separating proteins according to their charge.
Protein fixative and monospecific antisera to IgG, IgA, IgM, Kappa and Lambda are applied to the gel.
During incubation, insoluble immune complexes are formed.
The gel is now washed, pressed, dried, and stained.
Samples are examined for paraprotein bands in the TSP and Ig tracks

27. IFE of serum

28. IFE of Urine

29. Samples required for IFE
100 mL aliquot of 24 hour urine
No preservative required. Random urine will be accepted, but not a recommended specimen due to low protein content.
0.5 mL serum

30. Monoclonalprotein present
The patient was a 72 year old male who presented with lower back pain.
Quantitative immunoglobulin measurements showed a large increase in serum IgG, but decreased IgA and IgM. Bone marrow exam revealed a large increase in plasma cells that were frequently aggregated.
IFE on this patient's serum showed the M protein was IgG kappa. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made.

31. Biclonal gammopathy
This sample is from a 62 year old male who presented with weight loss and fatigue. He was found to have multiple myeloma.
In this disease, biclonal gammopathies are rare, occurring in about 1.7 % of patients. IFE showed the 2 M proteins to be IgG-k and IgA-lambda

32. Electrophoresis of Urine
a minimum of 10 ml of urine for electrophoresis.
Most urine samples require concentration to obtain this minimum amount and for optimal concentration,
Electrophoresis on urine is the preferred technique for identification of Bence Jones proteins in patients with suspected multiple myeloma.
It should always be done in conjunction with serum, so the results can be compared directly.

33. Electrophoresis of Urine
Normal Range
Urine Total Protein ( < 140 mg/24hr )
Urine Albumin ( < 30 mg/24hr )

34. Thank you