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Identification, characterization, and physiological actions of factor H as an adrenomedullin binding protein present in human plasma
Author(s) -
Pío Rubén,
Elsasser Ted H.,
Martínez Alfredo,
Cuttitta Frank
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10047
Subject(s) - adrenomedullin , factor h , regulator , complement system , biology , complement factor i , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , immune system , receptor , immunology , gene
A recently discovered adrenomedullin binding protein has been characterized as complement factor H, an important regulator of the complement cascade. This review will describe the evidence that led to the identification of factor H as an adrenomedullin binding protein and will address the implications that such binding has in the radioimmunoassay of AM in plasma. We will also describe the possible physiological implications of AM binding: namely, factor H suppresses the antimicrobial activity of AM, enhances AM‐mediated induction of cyclic‐AMP in rat fibroblasts, and augments the AM‐mediated growth of a human cancer cell line. These initial studies suggest that factor H may be an important factor in the regulation of AM physiology. The elucidation of the mechanisms that modulate AM activity will be necessary for the understanding of the role of AM in normal and pathological conditions. Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:23–27, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.