9 research outputs found
Tissue distribution of oral vitamin B12 is influenced by B12 status and B12 form: an experimental study in rats
Smoking trajectories and risk of stroke until age of 50 years – The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966
Keratocyte Apoptosis and Not Myofibroblast Differentiation Mark the Graft/Host Interface at Early Time-Points Post-DSAEK in a Cat Model
Integration of Acoustic Radiation Force and Optical Imaging for Blood Plasma Clot Stiffness Measurement
Polymorphism of human haptoglobin and its clinical importance
Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma glycoprotein, the main biological function of which is to bind free hemoglobin (Hb) and prevent the loss of iron and subsequent kidney damage following intravascular hemolysis. Haptoglobin is also a positive acute-phase protein with immunomodulatory properties. In humans, the HP locus is polymorphic, with two codominant alleles (HP1 and HP2) that yield three distinct genotypes/phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2). The corresponding proteins have structural and functional differences that may influence the susceptibility and/or outcome in several diseases. This article summarizes the available data on the structure and functions of Hp and the possible effects of Hp polymorphism in a number of important human disorders