Abstract
The haptoglobins constitute a population of serum proteins characterized by their ability to form a stable bond with hemoglobin. The molecular heterogeneity of these hemoglobin-binding proteins, demonstrable by starch gel electrophoresis, is under genetic control(l). The 3 major haptoglobin types have been designated 1-1. 2-1 and 2-2.
The opportunity to study a patient before and after liver transplantation provided a unique circumstance in which to evaluate the role of the liver in haptoglobin metabolism. The patient and the donor had different haptoglobin types; and we report here the temporary appearance of haptoglobin of the donor type in the serum of the recipient after liver transplantation.
Materials and methods. The subject of this investigation was a 29-year-old Caucasian female with a primary carcinoma of the liver in whom a liver transplantation was performed. A preliminary operation was done on Oct. 2, 1963, and hepatectomy and transplantation on Oct. 5, 1963. The clinical course of this patient has been described elsewhere (2). The donor organ was obtained from a 66-year-old Caucasian male who had just died of a gunshot wound of the head.
Serum samples from the patient were obtained prior to both surgical procedures, between the first stage operation and the transplantation, and serially following implantation of the liver. A serum sample was obtained from the donor on the day he died.
The serum haptoglobin genotypes were determined by electrophoresis in a vertical starch gel(3)† The wells were charged with a solution consisting of 15 parts of undiluted serum and 1 part of 10% hemoglobin solution. The initial current was 15 ma and 120 volts, and a constant voltage was maintained for 18 hours. The gel was removed from the supporting tray and divided horizontally into slices 2-3 mm thick.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.