Generation and purification of recombinant mouse SAA1 and its application in the characterization of SAA receptor on peritoneal macrophage cell line, RAW 267.4.

Mouse serum amyloid A 1 (SAA1), an apolipoprotein is found in the serum complexed with high density lipoprotein (HDL). Expression of SAA1 is increased during acute phase response following infection, inflammation or trauma. Evidence shows that SAA1 is cleared from the circulation following endocytosis by macrophages and endothelial cells; incomplete degradation of SAA1 leads to intracellular AA fibril formation and induction of life-threatening systemic AA amyloidosis. In this context, at least two important mechanisms remain to be elucidated: first, identification of putative SAA receptors mediating endocytosis of SAA by activated monocytoid cells, and second, the conditions that promote intracellular amyloidogenesis. The data presented in this thesis address the first query.To characterize the putative SAA receptor protein, mouse recombinant SAA1 (rSAA1) was generated and purified using gel filtration, immunoaffinity and GST affinity purification methods. (Abstract shortened by UMI.