Immunologic Characteristics of Apparently Healthy Nigerians Exhibiting Abnormal SPE: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Abnormal serum protein electrophoresis patterns have been discovered in apparently healthy Africans in Britain and Ghanaians living in Accra, Ghana. Conflicting reasons were suggested for this phenomenon. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) abnormalities in apparently healthy Nigerians living in Ogbomoso. Three hundred (300) apparently healthy subjects aged 20–30 years were selected for the study. SPE was performed on cellulose acetate gel in barbital buffer (pH 8.8) at 20 V/cm for 25 min. The separated protein fractions were fixed in 5% acetic acid and visualized with ponceau S stain. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations were determined using radial immunodifussion method. Six percent (6%) of the subjects exhibited high gamma globulin (γ-globulin) band with features consistent with chronic inflammation. The phenomenon appeared to be associated with age but not statistically significant (p=0.28). Serum concentration (mean ± SEM) of IgG (20.9±1.39 mg/ml) in subjects with elevated γ-globulin band was higher than that in subjects exhibiting normal SPE pattern (17.1±0.93 mg/ml), although not statistically significant (p=0.06). Serum concentrations of IgA and IgM were essentially the same in both the groups (p=0.79 and p=0.12; respectively). Since chronic antigenic stimulation results in γ-globulin expression, impaired cellular immune responses is speculated in apparently healthy subjects exhibiting abnormal SPE.

Keywords: Protein electrophoresis, hypergammaglobulinaemia, serum immunoglobulins, cellular immune responses

Cite this Article

Adedeji AL, Faniran OG, Olawoye TL. Immunologic Characteristics of Apparently Healthy Nigerians Exhibiting Abnormal SPE:  A Preliminary Study. Research and Reviews: Journal of Immunology. 2015; 5(3): 1–6p.