Posttranslational modifications of transthyretin are serum markers in patients with mycosis fungoides

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are characterized by the recruitment of malignant T-cell clones, predominantly of the CD4(+) T-helper subpopulation, into the skin. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of CTCL and accounts for almost 50% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas. The ProteinChip technology surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight/mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to detect biomarkers in sera from MF patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 26). Therefore, diluted sera were applied to IMAC30 ProteinChip arrays, and the resulting protein profiles were bioinformatically analyzed. A protein set that distinguishes MF patients from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 82.6% and a specificity of 100% was identified. Four significant peaks were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunodepletion, and SELDI-TOF-MS as transthyretin (TTR) and three TTR modifications. A subsequent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed these findings. The ability to detect and identify proteins and protein modifications using SELDI-TOF-MS might reveal a better insight on this kind of disease and may lead to a better understanding and earlier detection of MF patients.