Comparative study of the oligosaccharides of human thyroglobulins obtained from normal subjects and patients with various diseases.

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides were released quantitatively by N-oligosaccharide glycopeptidase (almond) digestion from human thyroglobulins prepared from thyroid glands of normal subjects and patients with several pathological conditions. The pyridylamino derivatives of the oligosaccharides were prepared and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The content of high-mannose-type oligosaccharides was comparable to that of the complex type in normal thyroglobulins. Man9GlcNAc2 was the predominant component in the high-mannose-type region, while biantennary oligosaccharides with fucose were the major components in the complex-type region. High-mannose-type oligosaccharides were markedly decreased in thyroglobulins prepared from patients with various disorders, such as Basedow's disease, papillary carcinoma, and adenomatous goiter, whereas they were appreciably increased in thyroglobulin from diffuse goiter.