Mouse Alpha 1 Antitrypsin ELISA Kit

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin also known as A1AT or alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor is a serine protease inhibitor with a molecular mass of about 52 kDa. This protein mainly expresses in the liver and found in high concentrations in the blood plasma. A1AT protects tissues from enzymes of inflammatory cells especially neutrophil elastase. Its expression level is regulated by the liver making it a significant player in maintaining tissue integrity.

Biological function summary

A1AT regulates protease activity by forming complexes with target enzymes. It specifically inhibits neutrophil elastase a powerful enzyme capable of degrading elastin an important component of connective tissues. A1AT prevents excessive tissue damage during inflammation by maintaining a balance in protease activity within connective tissues across various organs.

Pathways

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin functions within the proteolytic pathways involved in inflammatory response and tissue remodeling. A1AT is closely related to neutrophil elastase in these processes. It interacts with other protease inhibitors like alpha 2-macroglobulin reinforcing its protective role against enzymatic activity that can lead to tissue destruction under pathophysiological conditions.

Associated diseases and disorders

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic condition that can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver cirrhosis. Deficient A1AT levels result in unregulated elastase activity leading to lung tissue damage and impaired liver function. Other proteins such as MMP-9 collaborate with elastase in exacerbating tissue damage illustrating how insufficient A1AT can significantly contribute to disease development.