Alpha-2-macroglobulin
Sign in to saveAlso known as C3 and PZP-like alpha-2-macroglobulin domain-containing protein 5, A2M, alpha-2-M
α2-Macroglobulin (α2M) or alpha-2-macroglobulin is a large (720 KDa) plasma protein found in the blood. It is mainly produced by the liver, and also locally synthesized by macrophages, fibroblasts, and adrenocortical cells. In humans it is encoded by the A2M gene.
Protein · UniProt
Alpha-2-macroglobulin
- Gene
- A2M
- Organism
- Homo sapiens (Human)
- Length
- 1,474 aa
- Molecular mass
- 163,291 Da
- Evidence
- 1: Evidence at protein level
Is able to inhibit all four classes of proteinases by a unique 'trapping' mechanism. This protein has a peptide stretch, called the 'bait region' which contains specific cleavage sites for different proteinases. When a proteinase cleaves the bait region, a conformational change is induced in the protein which traps the proteinase. The entrapped enzyme remains active against low molecular weight substrates (activity against high molecular weight substrates is greatly reduced). Following cleavage in the bait region, a thioester bond is hydrolyzed and mediates the covalent binding of the prote…
Swiss-Prot (reviewed) · via UniProt
Clinical Trials
6 registered- PHASE1COMPLETEDReduction of Pro-Inflammatory Synovial Fluid Biomarkers in Osteoarthritis of the Knee With Alpha-2 MacroglobulinNYU Langone Health · NCT03656575
- UNKNOWNForms of Cervical Brachial Syndrome Treated With Plasma Concentrate Enriched for A2MNeurological Associates of West Los Angeles · NCT04066933
- PHASE1/PHASE2COMPLETEDAutologous Alpha-2 Macroglobulin Rich Plasma, Safety and Efficacy in Symptomatic Moderate Knee OsteoarthritisMayo Clinic · NCT06329492
- COMPLETEDInjection of an Autologous A2M Concentrate Alleviates Back Pain in FAC-positive PatientsScuderi, Gaetano J., M.D. · NCT03307876
- PHASE1/PHASE2UNKNOWNAPIC-CF Therapy for Mild to Moderate Osteoarthritis of the KneeCytonics Corporation · NCT02210468
- SUSPENDEDSerum and Synovium Protease Inhibitor Levels in Primary and Secondary Osteoarthritic JointsScuderi, Gaetano J., M.D. · NCT01613833
~6 min read
Encyclopedic overview
5 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Function
- Disease
- References
- External links
α2-Macroglobulin (α2M) or alpha-2-macroglobulin is a large (720 KDa) plasma protein found in the blood. It is mainly produced by the liver, and also locally synthesized by macrophages, fibroblasts, and adrenocortical cells. In humans it is encoded by the A2M gene.
α2-Macroglobulin acts as an antiprotease and is able to inactivate an enormous variety of proteinases. It functions as an inhibitor of fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasmin and kallikrein. It functions as an inhibitor of coagulation by inhibiting thrombin. α2-macroglobulin may act as a carrier protein because it also binds to numerous growth factors and cytokines, such as platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, TGF-β, insulin, and IL-1β.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Alpha-2-macroglobulin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.