α2-Macroglobulin Concentrations in Canine and Equine Serum Donors.

Equine serum α2-macroglobulin is dramatically higher than canine, requiring species-specific interpretation.

This comparative study examined serum α2-macroglobulin (A2M) concentrations in 30 healthy dogs and 31 healthy horses using species-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The findings demonstrate marked species-dependent differences in A2M concentrations, with equine serum A2M levels approximately 5,600-fold higher than canine levels (median 557,000 ng/mL versus 98.70 ng/mL, respectively). The study also evaluated potential modulators of A2M concentration, including donor sex and serum storage duration. Sex showed minimal statistical significance in canine A2M concentrations (p = 0.17), though practical analysis suggested males had slightly higher concentrations. Serum storage at -80°C for varying durations did not significantly affect A2M stability. These findings establish important baseline reference values for both species and suggest that species-specific considerations are critical when interpreting A2M as a potential antiprotease marker. The authors acknowledge that further investigation is warranted to determine the functional significance of these concentration differences and their impact on antiprotease activity in clinical contexts.

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