Severely depleted levels of a secreted growth factor
A patient was identified with severely depleted levels of a secreted growth factor (GF1), normally found in the circulation. Secretion of all other proteins was not affected, suggesting that there is a defect in the GF1 protein. Cells have been isolated from the patient (secretory defect 1 – SD1 cells) and can be grown in culture in the lab. Cells from an unaffected individual are also available (normal control – NC cells). Preliminary experiments using Western blotting have shown that both NC cells and SD1 cells are synthesising GF1 but, in the case of SD1 cells, it is not being secreted into the culture medium.