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

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.