Haptoglobin Antibody

Haptoglobin (HP), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HP gene. Haptoglobin, a plasma glycoprotein that binds free hemoglobin, has a tetrameric structure of 2 alpha and 2 beta polypeptides that are covalently associated by disulfide bonds. Haptoglobin is homologous to serine proteases of the chymotrypsinogen family. A major function of haptoglobin is to bind hemoglobin(Hb) to form a stable Hp-Hb complex and thereby prevent Hb-induced oxidative tissue damage. Haptoglobin is an unusual secretory protein in that it is proteolytically processed in the endoplasmic reticulum and not in the Golgi. In clinical settings, the haptoglobulin assay is used to screen for and monitor intravascular hemolytic anemia .