Characteristics of Major " Serum Proteins "

- Prealbumin,transthyretin
Transport of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine; useful as a measurement of nutritional status
- Albumin
Transport of bilirubin, drugs; maintenance of colloid oncotic pressure
- IgG
Produced in response to specific infections to destroy toxins and foreign invaders of the body
- IgA
Secretory immunoglobulin protecting the mucosal surfaces
- IgM
First antibody produced in response to an infection
- C3
Complement protein that plays a role in immune defense; an acute-phase protein
- C4
Complement protein involved in antibody-antigen response and in the destruction of bacteria and viruses; an acute-phase protein
- C-reactive protein
Acute-phase protein that appears in the blood following infection or tissue damage
- Beta2-microglobulin
Light chain of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecule
- Beta lipoprotein
Transports lipids, primarily cholesterol (e.g., low density lipoprotein)
- Haptoglobin
Transports free hemoglobin through the blood to the liver for degradation; an acute-phase protein
- Transferrin
Transport protein for iron
- Ceruloplasmin
Acute-phase protein; has enzymatic activity and transports copper
- Alpha1-antitrypsin
Serine protease inhibitor; an acute-phase protein
- Alpha1 acid glycoprotein
Inactivates lipophilic hormones; an acute-phase protein
- Alpha-fetoprotein
Predominant plasma protein of the fetus; a fetal albumin analog
- Alpha2-macroglobulin
Protease inhibitor and acute-phase reactant