HP Antibody

Background:

This gene encodes a preproprotein, which is processed toyield both alpha and beta chains, which subsequently combine as atetramer to produce haptoglobin. Haptoglobin functions to bind freeplasma hemoglobin, which allows degradative enzymes to gain accessto the hemoglobin, while at the same time preventing loss of ironthrough the kidneys and protecting the kidneys from damage byhemoglobin. Mutations in this gene and/or its regulatory regionscause ahaptoglobinemia or hypohaptoglobinemia. This gene has alsobeen linked to diabetic nephropathy, the incidence of coronaryartery disease in type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, inflammatorydisease behavior, primary sclerosing cholangitis, susceptibility toidiopathic Parkinson's disease, and a reduced incidence ofPlasmodium falciparum malaria. A similar duplicated gene is locatednext to this gene on chromosome 16. Multiple transcript variantsencoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.