Immunochemical identification and physicochemical study of the alpha 2-glycoprotein from atherosclerotically altered aortic wall

An antigen similar in its mobility to alpha 2-globulins has been isolated from atherosclerotic aortic wall. This antigen was undetectable in other tissues by immunodiffusion technique. The antigen was identified as alpha 2-glycoprotein of an atherosclerotic aortic wall, its molecular mass was 80,000 +/- 10,000 D. Amino-acid analysis has shown predominance of glutamic acid and proline in the molecular protein. The antigen was detected in the blood serum of atherosclerotic patients by immunodiffusion technique.