A mathematical framework for group analysis of von Willebrand factor multimeric composition following luminography

Autor(es)

A.A. Lopes ^[1] ; R.P.S. Soares ^[2] ; N.Y. Maeda ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto do Coração. Departamento de Cardiologia Pediátrica e Cardiopatias Congênitas

^[2] Fundação Pró-Sangue - Brasil

^[3] Fundação Pró-Sangue - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 35, n. 11, p. 1259-1263, 2002-11-00.

Resumo

The objective of the present study was to establish a method for quantitative analysis of von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimeric composition using a mathematical framework based on curve fitting. Plasma vWF multimers from 15 healthy subjects and 13 patients with advanced pulmonary vascular disease were analyzed by Western immunoblotting followed by luminography. Quantitative analysis of luminographs was carried out by calculating the relative densities of low, intermediate and high molecular weight fractions using laser densitometry. For each densitometric peak (representing a given fraction of vWF multimers) a mean area value was obtained using data from all group subjects (patients and normal individuals) and plotted against the distance between the peak and IgM (950 kDa). Curves were constructed for each group using nonlinear fitting. Results indicated that highly accurate curves could be obtained for healthy controls and patients, with respective coefficients of determination (r²) of 0.9898 and 0.9778. Differences were observed between patients and normal subjects regarding curve shape, coefficients and the region of highest protein concentration. We conclude that the method provides accurate quantitative information on the composition of vWF multimers and may be useful for comparisons between groups and possibly treatments. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 00/02845-8 - Estudo do impacto da disfunção endotelial e fatores correlacionados sobre a evolução de pacientes com Síndrome de Eisenmenger
• Beneficiário: Antonio Augusto Barbosa Lopes
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular