Proteomic analysis of human amniotic fluid from Rh− pregnancy

The objective of this study was to identify proteins from the amniotic fluid of the most common reproductive ailment, that is, Rh(-) incompatibility. In the present study, AF from Rh(-) pregnancy in the 29-35th week of gestation was analyzed by 2-DE, and our purpose was to identify the major spots on 2D gel.Proteins from an amniotic fluid sample was separated on 2D gel and visualized after silver staining. Most of the spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/MS, and were identified based on the NCBI database by a peptide mass fingerprinting method.Albumin, serotransferrin, haptoglobin, alpha-fetoprotein and immunoglobulin were the major proteins detected. On comparison with 2D gel of normal AF, differences were observed at the level of albumin, and newly identified Calgranulins and Neutophil-defensins were observed. Many enzymes, growth factor binding proteins, protease inhibitors and proteins related to inflammation have also been identified.This study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential utility of proteomics-based approaches to identify specific biomarkers like Calgranulins and Neutophil-defensins and diagnostic profiles for Rh(-) incompatibility processes and pathophysiologic conditions of pregnancy.