Protein Complex of Fibrinogen Gamma Chain and Complement Factor H in Ovarian Cancer Patient Plasma

Abstract

Background: In the plasma of an advanced cancer patient, fibrinogen is sometimes increased with possible effects on red blood cells (RBCs). Materials and Methods: The plasma fraction deteriorating osmotic resistance of RBCs was separated from a patient's plasma with advanced ovarian cancer by phenyl-sepharose column chromatography and analyzed with gel filtration chromatography. Results: In the plasma fraction, we found a protein reactive against whole fibrinogen with a molecular weight higher than that of intact fibrinogen from a healthy volunteer. The-high molecular weight protein was immunoractive to an antibody against fibrinogen gamma chain but not to an antibody against alpha or beta chain. Complement factor H, identified by N-terminal sequencing of a 150-kDa protein separated from the protein, was also eluted from anti-fibrinogen gamma immunoaffinity column. Conclusion: Fibrinogen gamma chain and complement factor H were found to be bound as a protein complex in the plasma of a patient with advanced ovarian cancer.