Ceruloplasmin (Caeruloplasmin)

Ceruloplasmin is a protein of the alpha-2 globulin fraction of plasma, which contains about 95% of the total amount of copper in blood serum. There are 6-8 copper atoms per molecule of ceruloplasmin. The high copper content gives it a blue color ("sky blue plasma protein"). Ceruloplasmin is synthesized mainly by parenchymal liver cells and to a lesser extent by macrophages and lymphocytes. First, a peptide chain is formed, then copper is added from the intracellular ATPase (the enzyme is absent in Konovalov-Wilson disease). The role of ceruloplasmin in the transport of copper itself is not very significant, since the addition and cleavage of copper in it occurs slowly (albumin and transcuprein play the main role in the transport of copper). As a biomarker of the status of copper, ceruloplasmin is informative in conditions of its pronounced deficiency. The synthesis of this protein is noticeably stimulated by estrogens (pregnancy, estrogen therapy). Ceruloplasmin belongs to the acute phase proteins. Its concentration in the blood increases during inflammation, infections, and traumatic conditions as a result of activation of the transcription of the ceruloplasmin gene by gamma interferon and cytokines. The increase in the level of ceruloplasmin as an acute phase protein is relatively slow – the peak is reached on 4-20 days after an acute stroke. The main physiological role of ceruloplasmin is its participation in redox reactions. Acting as a ferroxidase, ceruloplasmin plays a crucial role in regulating the ionic state of iron – the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+. This makes it possible to incorporate iron into transferrin without the formation of toxic iron products. Maintaining normal iron transport and metabolism is a vital function of ceruloplasmin. In iron deficiency, transcription of the ceruloplasmin gene is activated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which also activates the genes of erythropoietin, transferrin and its receptor. Ceruloplasmin can act as a prooxidant or as an antioxidant, depending on the presence of other factors. The antioxidant role of this protein has been described under physiological conditions. But in the presence of superoxide (for example, in an inflamed vascular endothelium), it acts as a powerful catalyst for the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. Based on the results of epidemiological studies, ceruloplasmin is considered as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

The interpretation of the research results contains information for the attending physician and is not a diagnosis. The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication. An accurate diagnosis is made by a doctor using both the results of this examination and the necessary information from other sources: anamnesis, results of other examinations, etc. Units of measurement: mg/dl. Alternative units: g/L. Conversion factors: g/l = mg/dl x 0.01. Reference values: Age Paul Reference values, mg/dl < 2 months both 7,4 -23,7 2 -6 months both 13,5 -32,9 6-12 months both 13,7 – 38,9 1-8 years old both 21,7 – 43,3 8-14 years old both 20,5 – 40,2 14-19 years old female 20,8 – 43,2 14-19 years old male 17,0 – 34,8 Over 19 years old both 20 – 40 Pregnant women: an increase of about twice the baseline level during the third trimester. Interpretation of the results of the study on Ceruloplasmin Increasing values Acute phase response (peak at 4-20 days) in inflammation, infection, tissue damage, cardiovascular diseases, and some malignant neoplasms. Pregnancy (doubled in the third trimester). The use of medications (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid, estrogens, methadone, oral contraceptives, tamoxifen). Smoking. Rheumatoid arthritis. Hodgkin's disease. Hepatitis, cholestasis, mechanical jaundice. Lowering the values Hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson-Konovalov disease). Menkes syndrome (curly hair disease). Aceruloplasminemia. Copper deficiency in nutritional disorders. The use of drugs (L-asparaginase). Nephrosis. Long-term parenteral nutrition.