Protein characterization using electrophoresis and immunofixation; a case‐based review of dogs and cats

Abstract

Protein electrophoresis and immunotyping can be a useful adjunct to the standard biochemical techniques for characterizing serum and urine proteins. This paper reviews currently available and commonly used methods for diagnostic protein electrophoresis, including both agarose gel and capillary zone electrophoretic techniques and total protein assessments. Immunofixation and immunosubtraction methods for identification of immunoglobulin location and class are also presented. Practical application of quality assurance and quality control strategies in compliance with American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) best practices are discussed. Commonly encountered serum and urine electrophoretic diagnostic patterns, including electrophoretically normal, acute‐phase protein responses, polyclonal gammopathies, restricted polyclonal/oligoclonal gammopathies, paraproteinemias (monoclonal or biclonal gammopathies), and Bence‐Jones proteinurias are also reviewed using relevant case material. Cases in which immunofixation electrophoresis are particularly useful are highlighted, and methodologies to more accurately quantify serum monoclonal proteins (M‐proteins), monitoring tests commonly used in human medicine, are discussed.

The Electrophoretic Pattern of Serum Proteins in Sheep with Naturally Acquired Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections

“…Gastrointestinal parasites usually cause not only local infl ammation of the intestine and damage to the mucosal structures, but also induce general metabolic disturbances and infl ammatory reactions, including the acute phase response. The markedly increased synthesis of positive acute phase proteins belongs to the most important reactions occurring during the acute phase response [34]. Many important acute phase proteins can be found in the α-globulin fraction [35], thus the increased production of some of them (e.g.…”

Bisalbuminemia in a dog with leishmaniosis after anti‐Leishmania therapeutic protocol administration: a rare condition detected in the electrophoretogram

“…Together with the CBC, routine clinical biochemistry and urinalysis, this technique provides clinical information to make a diagnosis based on the laboratory analysis. In veterinary medicine, this method has been used to point out the acute phase response, polyclonal gammopathy, and the characterisation of hypoalbuminemia and hypoglobulinemia 22…”

Polyclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis in English bulldogs

“…7,8 Reactive or inflammatory processes might also cause increased production of polyclonal immunoglobulin proteins. 9,10 Monoclonal immunoglobulin production is typically due to an immunoglobulin-secreting B-cell or plasma cell neoplasm, though rarely certain infectious or inflammatory conditions are associated with monoclonal gammopathy in dogs. 9,11 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) is a common hematopoietic neoplasm in dogs, defined by a clonal expansion of small-sized B-cells in the blood or bone marrow.…”

“…9,10 Monoclonal immunoglobulin production is typically due to an immunoglobulin-secreting B-cell or plasma cell neoplasm, though rarely certain infectious or inflammatory conditions are associated with monoclonal gammopathy in dogs. 9,11 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) is a common hematopoietic neoplasm in dogs, defined by a clonal expansion of small-sized B-cells in the blood or bone marrow. 12,13 Our laboratory identifies BCLL based on inclusion criteria of >5000 lymphocytes/μL on CBC with small-sized CD21+ B-cells accounting for >60% of the lymphocyte population by flow cytometry.…”