The association between galactosylation of immunoglobulin G and body mass index

Matea Nikolac Perkovic, Maja Pucic Bakovic, Jasminka Kristic, Mislav Novokmet, Jennifer E. Huffman, Veronique Vitart, Caroline Hayward, Igor Rudan, James F. Wilson, Harry Campbell, Ozren Polasek, Gordan Lauc, Nela Pivac*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is becoming a fast-growing health problem worldwide. Glycosylation of proteins and their variations significantly affect protein structure and function, thus altering numerous physiological and pathophysiological cellular processes. Since plasma glycans were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) in both Croatian and Chinese populations, the study evaluated the association between immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycome, which is closer to biological function, and BMI.

Method: The study included individuals from two Croatian Adriatic islands, Vis and Korcula, and individuals from Northern Scottish Orkney Islands. A hydrophilic interaction chromatography on Waters BEH Glycan chromatography column was used to analyze N-glycans attached to IgG in plasma samples from a total of 3515 individuals.

Results: A small but significant positive correlation between BMI and the level of neutral glycans without galactoses was detected. After taking into account the influence of age and gender, correlation coefficients indicated that BMI was responsible for up to 2.0% of variation in the level of neutral glycans without galactoses. Furthermore, after adjusting the effects of age and gender, the level of neutral glycans with two terminal galactoses was negatively associated with BMI in analyzed sample groups, suggesting that BMI could be responsible for up to 3.2% of variation in this glycan feature.

Conclusion: Our study is the first large-scale study to indicate the association of BMI and changes in IgG galactosylation. The observed loss of galactose which is associated with increased BMI might be related to chronic inflammation that accompanies the development of obesity. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-25
Number of pages6
JournalProgress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Volume48
Early online date5 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jan 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Body mass index
  • Galactosylation
  • Glycome
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • PLASMA N-GLYCANS
  • RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS
  • SERUM IGG
  • GLYCOSYLATION
  • DEPRESSION
  • OBESITY
  • POPULATIONS
  • DISORDERS
  • DISEASE
  • CROATIA

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The association between galactosylation of immunoglobulin G and body mass index'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this