Detection of novel auto-antigens in patients with recurrent miscarriage: description of an approach and preliminary findings

AIM: To develop and test a protocol for isolation of potential auto-antigens from chorionic tissue that may be linked to recurrent miscarriage (RM). METHODS: The strategy included: 1) isolation of IgGs tightly bound to chorionic tissue of RM patients by protein G chromatography; 2) construction of affinity columns using the chorionic antibodies for isolation of auto-antigens; 3) enrichment of auto-antigens from detergent extracted solution of chorionic proteins by affinity chromatography; 4) separation by dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry identification. RESULTS: Five potential auto-antigens were detected: neutral alpha-glucosidase AB, endoplasmin, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, putative endoplasmin-like protein, and cytoplasmic actin 2. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a strategy for identification of auto-antigens in the chorionic tissue of women with RM, which could be of diagnostic and prognostic value.