Investigations of urinary alpha-1 acid glycoprotein

Joyce, Kelsey Elizabeth ORCID: 0000-0002-3189-847X (2021). Investigations of urinary alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The primary objective of this thesis was to investigate the mechanisms of post-exercise and altitude-induced proteinuria by measuring urinary alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (a1-AGP), a sensitive marker of glomerular leak. Following a review of literature providing the rationale for urinalysis of a1-AGP (Chapters 1 and 2), initial experimental chapters outlined the development and validation of a novel immunoturbidimetric assay for low-concentration a1-AGP (Chapter 3), as well as, the application and analysis completed to establish a normative reference range from collected samples and a systematic literature review (Chapter 4). The novel immunoassay was further utilised to evaluate the contribution of hypoxia to post-exercise and altitude-induced a1-AGP excretion, combining data from field- and chamber-based studies (Chapters 5 and 6). The final experimental chapter (Chapter 7) examined a1-AGP excretion during ascent to high altitude, but without an acute exercise stimulus. The synthesis of the thesis findings and discussion of future directions (Chapter 8) highlighted that profound systemic hypoxaemia did not influence the degree of post-exercise proteinuria, which was more attributable to exercise intensity, however, nocturnal oxygenation during ascent did influence altitude-induced a1-AGP excretion. Collectively, this thesis advances techniques for the urinalysis of a1-AGP and increases understanding of the causes of post-exercise and altitude-induced proteinuria.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):