Fibrinogen heterogeneity in horses

Abstract

Background: Fibrinogen heterogeneity has been observed in humans and can influence fibrinogen measurements when using the modified Clauss assay. We hypothesized that fibrinogen heterogeneity also exists in horses. Objectives: To determine whether fibrinogen heterogeneity exists in horses. Animals: Five clinically healthy horses from the university equine teaching herd. Methods: Presumed fibrinogen was purified from pooled citrated plasma and electrophoresis performed. The purified protein was subjected to Western blotting using sheep antiserum against human fibrinogen, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Gel electrophoresis of nonreduced equine purified protein yielded 2 protein bands (approximately 377 and 318 kDa) that corresponded with the molecular weights of human high molecular weight fibrinogen and low molecular weight fibrinogen fractions, respectively. Electrophoretograms of reduced purified protein, Western blots, and LC-MS/MS supported that the purified nonreduced protein bands were fibrinogen. Conclusion: Fibrinogen heterogeneity exists in horses.