Biochemistry of Albumin Metabolism Flashcards
What is nephrotic syndrome?
A collection of symptoms due to kidney damage
What is the nephrotic syndrome characterized by?
Proteinuria (mainly albuminuria)
Hypoalbuminemia
Hyperlipidemia
Edema
Disturbance in albumin metabolsim
What is the serum albumin concentration?
A strong prognostic indicator of morbidity and mortality in both sick and seemingly healthy individuals
What is the serum albumin concentration like?
Constant over time, 3% daily variation
What is serum albumin concentration a result of?
Synthesis
Degredation
Distribution
What are the causes of high serum albumin concentration, and how common is it?
Water depletion
Intravenous infusion of plasma
It is unusual to have high serum albumin concentrations
What is it known as if there are high serum albumin concentrations?
Hyperalbunemia
What are the causes of HYPOALBUNEMIA?
Decreased synthesis
Redistribution
Increased loss
Dilution
What are the decreased synthesis causes of hypoalbuminemia?
Malnutrition (protein-poor diet)
Liver disease
What are the redistribution causes of HYPOALBUNEMIA ?
Ascites
Sepsis
What are the increased loss causes of HYPOALBUNEMIA?
Protein-losing nephropathy,
Enteropathy,
Dermatopathy
Loss of plasma from burns, for example
What are the dilution causes of HYPOALBUNEMIA?
Intravenous infusion of fluid
What is the albumin gene?
Member of the albuminoid gene superfamily
Which other proteins are part of the albuminoid gene superfamily?
a-fetoprotein
Vitamin D - binding protein
Afamin (Vitamin E - binding glycoprotein)
Where is the albumin gene located?
Chromosome 4
What is the most abundant protein during fetal life?
a-fetoprotein
What is the most abundant plasma protein in the post-natal life?
Albumin (50% of total protein content)
What is Analbuminemia?
Very rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in albumin gene
What is Analbunemia characterized by?
Absence or very low levels of albumin in the blood
When is Analbuminemia diagnosed?
Adulthood
What are the clinical presentations of Analbuminemia?
Mild edema
Hypotension
Fatigue
Hyperlipidemia
Occasionally a peculiar lower body lipodystrophy
When is Analbuminemia most severe?
In the fetus or during early infancy, where it can lead to fetal or neonatal death
What is Bisalbuminemia?
Relatively rare hereditary condition caused by mutations in albumin gene or acquired condition by prolonged use of antibiotics or acute pancreatitis
What is the difference between hereditary and acquired Bisalbuminemia?
Hereditary –> permanent
Acquired –> transient
What is Bisalbuminemia charcaterized by?
The presence of two distinct albumin bands on serum protein electrophoresis
What kind of substances do some albumin variants have altered affinity for?
Steroid hormones,
Drugs,
Thyroxine
What are FDH-T4 and FDH-T3?
Rare autosomal dominant syndromes caused by missense mutations in albumin gene
What are FDH-T4 and FDH-T3 characterized by?
Dramatic increase in the affinity of albumin for thyroxine (T4) in the case of FDH-T4 and triiodothyronine (T3) in the case of FDH-T3
What are the results of FDH-T4 and FDH-T3?
Elevated levels of bound T4 and T3 respectively
Do FDH-T4 and FDH-T3 cause disease? Why?
No, these syndromes do not cause disease, the concentration of free hormones is normal
What is the amnagement of FDH-T4/T3 patients?
They do not require any medication, may be at risk for unnecessary drug or surgical treatment
To avoid unnecessary treatment, sequencing of the albumin gene should be performed
Which organs synthesizes albumin?
The liver
Under physiological conditions, only 20% of hepatocytes are committed to the production of 10 to 15g of albumin per day
What happens if the synthesis of albumin needs to be increased?
The liver has a large functional reserve, so it can increase synthesis about 3 to 4 times if required
What is the plasma half life of albumin?
20 days
Where is albumin initially synthesized?
At the ribosomes on the RER of hepatocytes as preproalbumin
What happens to preproalbumin?
A signal peptidase cleaves 18 amino acids from the N-terminus of preproalbumin, leading to the formation of proalbumin that is released from the RER
What happens to the proalbumin?
Furin cleaves 6 additional amino acids from the C-terminus of proalbumin (inactive form) in the Golgi-derived vesicles leading to the formation of albumin
Is albumin the active or inactive form?
Active