Blood protein

Blood proteins, also known as serum proteins or plasma proteins, are proteins present in blood that serve various functions including transport of lipids, hormones, vitamins and minerals in activity and functioning of the immune system. Other blood proteins act as enzymes, complement components, protease inhibitors or kinin precursors.

Classification

Blood proteins can be classified into three main groups:

1. Albumin: This is the most abundant plasma protein and it is produced in the liver. Albumin functions primarily as a carrier protein for steroids, fatty acids, and thyroid hormones in the body and is an important regulator of acellular fluid distribution in the body.
2. Globulins: These are a group of proteins in the blood, identified by their position after serum protein electrophoresis. The fractionated groups of globulins are alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma globulins.
3. Fibrinogen: This is a protein produced by the liver and it helps in blood clotting. When tissue damage results in bleeding, fibrinogen is converted at the wound into fibrin by the action of thrombin, a clotting enzyme.

Functions

Blood proteins have a wide variety of functions including:

• Transportation: They transport substances such as hormones, vitamins, and enzymes throughout the body.
• Clotting: Blood proteins also play a key role in blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.
• Defense: Some blood proteins are antibodies and they help in defending the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances.
• Regulation: They help maintain the pH and osmotic pressure of the blood.

Disorders

Abnormal levels of blood proteins may indicate a variety of medical conditions, including liver disease, kidney disease, malnutrition, autoimmune diseases, and many types of cancer. Some specific disorders related to blood proteins include:

• Hypoproteinemia: This is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of total protein in the blood.
• Hyperproteinemia: This is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of total protein in the blood.
• Paraproteinemia: This is a condition characterized by the presence of excessive amounts of a single monoclonal protein in the blood.

See also

• Protein electrophoresis
• Serum protein electrophoresis
• Total protein

References

Blood protein Resources
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