[Identification of the properties of haptoglobin-like substance in burn serum].

In our previous study, a haptoglobin-like substance possessing immunosuppressive activity was found in the sera of burned patients. However, its properties have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we mainly investigated the properties of the haptoglobin-like substance. The results showed that the abnormal protein bands identified by SDS-PAGE were the different subunits of haptoglobin, i.e., beta, alpha 2 and alpha 1 chains. The haptoglobin in burned sera was identical to that in normal sera in molecular weight, isoelectric point, hemoglobin-binding capacity and immunochemical properties as analyzed by SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, immunochemical and biochemical methods. According to our results, it is suggested that the haptoglobin-like substance reported in the past is probably the haptoglobin, and that there may be no alteration in the properties of haptoglobin following burns.