Detection of global glycosylation changes of serum proteins in type 1 diabetes using a lectin panel and multivariate data analysis

Global glycosylation changes of serum proteins in type 1 diabetic patients have in this paper been investigated based on the interaction of the saccharide moiety of serum proteins with different lectins. Lectins are proteins, which bind carbohydrates specifically and reversibly. Panels with lectins of various carbohydrate specificities were immobilized on gold surfaces. Sera from healthy individuals, newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients and type 1 diabetes patients having had the disease for 4–6 years, respectively, were applied to the lectin panel. The biorecognition was evaluated with null ellipsometry. Data obtained were related to an internal standard of lactoferrin. Multivariate data analysis (MVDA) techniques were used to analyze data. pal component analysis showed that the lectin panel enabled discrimination between sera from the three different above-mentioned groups. Using an artificial neuronal net (ANN), it was possible to correctly categorize unknown serum samples into one of the three groups.