Haptoglobin, inflammation and disease.
Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein that scavenges haemoglobin in the event of intravascular or extravascular haemolysis. The protein exists in humans as three main phenotypes, Hp1-1, Hp2-2 and Hp2-1. Accumulated data on the protein's function has established its strong association with diseases that have inflammatory causes. These include parasitic (malaria), infectious (HIV, tuberculosis) and non-infectious diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity) among others. Phenotype-dependent poor disease outcomes have been linked with the Hp2-2 phenotype. The present review brings this association into perspective by looking at the functions of the protein and how defects in these functions associated with the Hp2 allele affect disease outcome. A model is provided to explain the mechanism, which appears to be largely immunomodulatory.
Quaye
Isaac K
IK
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu-Accra, Ghana. dr.quaye@gmail.com
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D018925:Chemokines; C485359:HP protein, human; D006242:Haptoglobins; D007155:Immunologic Factors