Biomaterial Database

Heterogeneity of proteins in commercial preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) demonstrated by Western blotting. 1988

J H Morse, and J W Lustbader, and J W Harrington, and R E Canfield

Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

Immunoblotting has been utilized to detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), its alpha and beta subunits, the Tamm-Horsfall protein (uromodulin), immunoglobulins G (IgG) and M (IgM), kappa (K) and lambda (L) chains, and serum albumin in commercially available preparations of hCG intended for human use. Concentrated pregnancy, postpartum, and normal urines were studied as a comparison. Those hCG batches prepared from pooled first-trimester pregnancy urine contained all of the hCG and non-hCG proteins listed above or their fragments, with the single exception of the IgM mu chain. The conflicting literature regarding the immunomodulatory properties of hCG requires reevaluation, since many previous reports of immunologic activity utilized these preparations, containing intact and degraded IgG, K, and L chains, and the Tamm-Horsfall protein, all of which may contribute to an altered immune response. Since hCG can be prepared in high yields, free of these contaminants, these data suggest that patients are being unnecessarily exposed to contaminating substances when receiving parenteral injections of hCG.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009088	Mucoproteins	Conjugated proteins in which mucopolysaccharides are combined with proteins. The mucopolysaccharide moiety is the predominant group with the protein making up only a small percentage of the total weight.
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D004340	Drug Contamination	The presence of organisms, or any foreign material that makes a drug preparation impure.	Drug Adulteration,Drug Contamination, Chemical,Drug Contamination, Microbial,Drug Contamination, Physical,Drug Impurity,Adulteration, Drug,Chemical Drug Contamination,Chemical Drug Contaminations,Contamination, Chemical Drug,Contamination, Drug,Contamination, Microbial Drug,Contamination, Physical Drug,Contaminations, Chemical Drug,Contaminations, Microbial Drug,Contaminations, Physical Drug,Drug Adulterations,Drug Contaminations,Drug Contaminations, Chemical,Drug Contaminations, Microbial,Drug Contaminations, Physical,Drug Impurities,Impurity, Drug,Microbial Drug Contamination,Microbial Drug Contaminations,Physical Drug Contamination,Physical Drug Contaminations
D006063	Chorionic Gonadotropin	A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN).	Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D012709	Serum Albumin	A major protein in the BLOOD. It is important in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure and transporting large organic molecules.	Plasma Albumin,Albumin, Serum
D015153	Blotting, Western	Identification of proteins or peptides that have been electrophoretically separated by blot transferring from the electrophoresis gel to strips of nitrocellulose paper, followed by labeling with antibody probes.	Immunoblotting, Western,Western Blotting,Western Immunoblotting,Blot, Western,Immunoblot, Western,Western Blot,Western Immunoblot,Blots, Western,Blottings, Western,Immunoblots, Western,Immunoblottings, Western,Western Blots,Western Blottings,Western Immunoblots,Western Immunoblottings
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular