Background: The objective of this study was to identify proteins from the amniotic fluid of the most common reproductive ailment, that is, Rh(-) incompatibility. In the present study, AF from Rh(-) pregnancy in the 29-35th week of gestation was analyzed by 2-DE, and our purpose was to identify the major spots on 2D gel.
Methods: Proteins from an amniotic fluid sample was separated on 2D gel and visualized after silver staining. Most of the spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/MS, and were identified based on the NCBI database by a peptide mass fingerprinting method.
Results: Albumin, serotransferrin, haptoglobin, alpha-fetoprotein and immunoglobulin were the major proteins detected. On comparison with 2D gel of normal AF, differences were observed at the level of albumin, and newly identified Calgranulins and Neutophil-defensins were observed. Many enzymes, growth factor binding proteins, protease inhibitors and proteins related to inflammation have also been identified.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential utility of proteomics-based approaches to identify specific biomarkers like Calgranulins and Neutophil-defensins and diagnostic profiles for Rh(-) incompatibility processes and pathophysiologic conditions of pregnancy.