A2M polyclonal antibody

α-2-Macroglobulin (α-2M) is a homotetrameric serum protein consisting of four identical subunits that form dimers through disulfide bonds. Initially, α-2M was characterized as a pan-proteinase inhibitor thatwas able to “bait” proteinases into cleaving specific peptide sequences on α-2M. This interaction induces a conformational change in α-2M, thus enabling it to “trap”the proteinase and inhibit its further activity. Subsequently, α-2M has also been shown to function as a carrier protein and regulator of cytokines during inflammation. Circulating transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in serumis primarily bound to α-2M,which renders TGFβ inactive. α-2M also binds to IL-6 and, thereby, increasesthe concentration of IL-6 near lymphocytes, hepatocytes and stem cells involved inmediating the inflammatory cascade. Mutations and deletions in the gene encoding α-2M are associated with an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD),which isconsistent with the role of α-2M inmediating the clearance and degradation of Aβ, the major component of β-Amyloid deposits accumulated during AD.