Abstract

Variations in the Human Serum Albumin Gene: Molecular and Functional Aspects

Author(s): George Brown

In healthy adult humans, human serum albumin (ALB; OMIM # 103600) is continuously released by liver hepatocytes at a rate of 14 grammes per day, with a half-life of roughly 19 days. ALB is the most abundant protein in plasma (about 35–50 gr/L), accounting for 60–65 percent of total proteins and accounting for about 80 percent of oncotic plasma pressure. having esterase-like enzymatic activity and catalytic characteristics based on heme ALB may potentially have an anticoagulant effect by binding antithrombin and preventing platelet aggregation, according to several studies. Recent research suggests that it may play a role in human innate immunity.