Proteins produced and secreted by the liver explained
The liver plays the major role in producing proteins that are secreted into the blood, including major plasma proteins, factors in hemostasis and fibrinolysis, carrier proteins, hormones, prohormones and apolipoprotein:
Major plasma proteins
All plasma proteins except Gamma-globulins are synthesised in the liver.[1]
Factors in hemostasis and fibrinolysis
- Stimulators of coagulation:
- All factors in the coagulation cascade.[3]
- While the endothelium does produce some factor VIII, the majority of factor VIII is produced in the liver.[4]
- Inhibitors of coagulation: Inactivate an enormous variety of proteinases
- Fibrinolysis: Breakdown of fibrin clots
- Inhibitors of fibrinolysis
- Complement components C1-9, complement component 3 (C3)
Carrier proteins
- Albumin, carries thyroid hormones and other hormones, particularly fat soluble ones, fatty acids to the liver, unconjugated bilirubin, many drugs and Ca2+
- Ceruloplasmin, carries copper
- Transcortin, carries cortisol, aldosterone and progesterone
- Haptoglobin, carries free hemoglobin released from erythrocytes
- Hemopexin, carries free heme released from hemoglobin
- IGF binding protein, carries insulin-like growth factor 1
- Major urinary proteins, carries pheromones in rodents
- Retinol binding protein, carries retinol
- Sex hormone-binding globulin, carries sex hormones, specifically testosterone and estradiol
- Thyroxine-binding globulin, carries the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine (T3)
- Transthyretin, carries the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4)
- Transferrin, carries iron ions in the ferric form (Fe3+)
- Vitamin D-binding protein, carries vitamin D
Hormones
Prohormones
- Angiotensinogen, when converted to angiotensin causes vasoconstriction and release of aldosterone, in effect increasing blood pressure
Apolipoproteins
References
General reference for the list of included substances (but not their functions):
- Table 45–4 in: Book: Walter F., PhD. Boron . Medical Physiology: A Cellular And Molecular Approaoch . Elsevier/Saunders . 2003 . 1300 . 1-4160-2328-3 .
Other:
Notes and References
- Miller. L. L.. Bale. W. F.. February 1954. Synthesis of all plasma protein fractions except gamma globulins by the liver; the use of zone electrophoresis and lysine-epsilon-C14 to define the plasma proteins synthesized by the isolated perfused liver. The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 99. 2. 125–132. 10.1084/jem.99.2.125. 0022-1007. 2180344. 13130789.
- Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Immunology. Paperback: 384 pages. Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; (July 1, 2007). Language: English. . Page 182
- BRS Pathology 5th Edition, pg. 196
- Robbins Basic Pathology 9th Edition, Chapter 11