Differences between glycoprotein profiles of normal tear fluid and of tear fluid from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

We present a method for tear glycoprotein characterization using lectins as probes. SDS-page of samples is followed by electrophoretic transfer of proteins from gels onto nitrocellulose paper. Biotinylated lectin is overlayed and visualized with avidin-conjugated horseradish-peroxidase. With the use of 10 lectins, pooled samples of normal tears were assayed and compared to pooled samples of tears from patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Significant differences in number of bands, molecular weights and lectin binding capacity were observed between the two tear samples.