Ceruloplasmin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase)
|
|
| Identifiers | |
| Symbol(s) | CP |
| Entrez | 1356 |
| OMIM | 117700 |
| RefSeq | NM_000096 |
| UniProt | P00450 |
| Other data | |
| EC number | 1.16.3.1 |
| Locus | Chr. 3 q23-q25 |
Ceruloplasmin (or caeruloplasmin) is officially known as ferroxidase or iron(II):oxygen oxidoreductase. It is an enzyme (EC 1.16.3.1) synthesized in the liver containing 8 atoms of copper in its structure. Although it is often considered a copper transport protein, this is not its primary function, just as hemoglobin is not a carrier of iron, although it contains iron. The main carrier for copper in the plasma of humans is albumin. Ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase) catalyzes the oxidation of ferrous iron (Fe2+) to ferric iron (Fe3+), therefore assisting in its transport in the plasma in association with transferrin, which can only carry iron in the ferric state.
Contents |
[edit] Interpretation
[edit] Decreased levels
Lower-than-normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:
- Menkes disease (Menke's kinky hair syndrome) (very rare)
- Wilson's disease (a rare copper storage disease)
- Overdose of Vitamin C
- Copper Deficiency
[edit] Elevated levels
Greater-than-normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:
- pregnancy
- lymphoma
- acute and chronic inflammation (it is an acute-phase reactant)
- rheumatoid arthritis
