Depletion of high-abundance serum proteins from human uterine lavages enhances detection of lower-abundance proteins.

Two-dimentional electrophoresis, 2-DE, of human uterine lavages demonstrated the abundance of serum proteins. Two methods of serum protein removal were assessed. Multiple affinity removal system was most effective in depleting abundant serum proteins. 2D-DiGE comparing depleted versus nondepleted lavages resulted in increased protein detection following depletion, further enhanced by assessing the protein profile over a narrower pI 4-7 range. Demonstrating depletion of abundant serum proteins is important for sensitive proteomic analysis.