Abstract
A serum glycoprotein inhibiting proteolytic enzymes, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase. It also acts as an acute-phase protein. Its serum level rises in inflammatory diseases. The coding gene is located on the 14th chromosome, where it can occur in form of 25 alleles. Some of them code for physiological products (PiMM phenotype), while others are related to pathological states, e.g. PiZZ phenotype, which is often associated with emphysema, cirrhosis, and cholelithiasis, where its serum levels are diminished (α1-antitrypsin deficiency).
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© 2009 Springer-Verlag/Wien
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(2009). α1-antitrypsin. In: Rovenský, J., Payer, J. (eds) Dictionary of Rheumatology. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-79280-3_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-79280-3_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-211-68584-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-211-79280-3
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