NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a plasma glycoprotein that binds heme with high affinity. The encoded protein is an acute phase protein that transports heme from the plasma to the liver and may be involved in protecting cells from oxidative stress. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2009]
General function
Extracellular binding protein
Comment
Cellular localization
Secreted
Comment
Ovarian function
Unknown
Comment
Expression regulated by
Comment
Ovarian localization
, Follicular Fluid
Comment
A Proteomic Analysis of Human Follicular Fluid: Comparison between Younger and Older Women with Normal FSH Levels. Hashemitabar M 2014 et al.
The follicular fluid (FF) is produced during folliculogenesis and contains a variety of proteins that play important roles in follicle development and oocyte maturation. Age-related infertility is usually considered as a problem that can be solved by assisted reproduction technology. Therefore, the identi?cation of novel biomarkers that are linked to reproductive aging is the subject of this study. FF was obtained from healthy younger (20-32 years old) and older (38-42 years old) women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to male factor infertility. The FF was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the identi?cation of proteins were exploited using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry. Twenty three protein spots showed reproducible and significant changes in the aged compared to the young group. Of these, 19 protein spots could be identified using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS. As a result of MASCOT search, five unique downregulated proteins were identified in the older group. These were identified as serotransferrin, hemopexin precursor, complement C3, C4 and kininogen. A number of protein markers were found that may help develop diagnostic methods of infertility.
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Proteome mining of human follicular fluid reveals a crutial role of complement cascade and key biological pathways in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation. Jarkovska K et al. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is fraught with problems and currently proteomics approaches are being tried out to examine the microenvironment of the follicle in order to assess biological and immunological parameters that may affect its development. Additionaly, better understanding of reproductive process may help increase IVF birth rate per embryo transfer and at the same time avoid spontaneous miscarriages or life threatening conditions such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrom. The primary aim of this study was to search for specific differences in protein composition of human follicular fluid (HFF) and plasma in order to identify proteins that accumulate or are absent in HFF. Depletion of abundant proteins combined with multi-dimensional protein fractionation allowed the study of middle and lower abundant proteins. Paired comparison study examining HFF with plasma/serum from women undergoing successful IVF revealed important differences in the protein composition which may improve our knowledge of the follicular microenvironment and its biological role. This study showed involvement of innate immune function of complement cascade in HFF. Complement inhibition and the presence of C-terminal fragment of perlecan suggested possible links to angiogenesis which is a vital process in folliculogenesis and placental development. Differences in proteins associated with blood coagulation were also found in the follicular milieu. Several specific proteins were observed, many of which have not yet been associated with follicle/oocyte maturation. These proteins together with their regulatory pathways may play a vital role in the reproductive process.