Haptoglobin
Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Haptoglobin (abbreviated as Hp) is the protein that in humans is encoded by the HP gene.[5][6] In blood plasma, haptoglobin binds with high affinity to free hemoglobin[7] released from erythrocytes, and thereby inhibits its deleterious oxidative activity. Compared to Hp, hemopexin binds to free heme.[8] The haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex will then be removed by the reticuloendothelial system (mostly the spleen).
In clinical settings, the haptoglobin assay is used to screen for and monitor intravascular hemolytic anemia. In intravascular hemolysis, free hemoglobin will be released into circulation and hence haptoglobin will bind the hemoglobin. This causes a decline in haptoglobin levels.
The protein was discovered as a "plasma substance" in 1938 by French biochemists Max-Fernand Jayle and Michel Polonovski.[9][10]