Clinical Significance of Haptoglobin, an Acute Phase Protein

Abstract

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein in the blood plasma that is capable of binding haemoglobin, released from erythrocytes with high affinity thus preventing iron loss and renal damage and thereby inhibits its oxidative activity. Haptoglobin also has antibacterial activity and plays a role in modulating many aspects of the acute phase response. Haptoglobin also has its clinical significance and hence can be used to detect different medical conditions. There are 3 major haptoglobin phenotypes of Hp found in humans: Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2. In forensic research, the Haptoglobin groups can be employed in cases of disputed paternity. We all know how vital it is to acquire reliable data in research and forensic science. If a large amount of evidence is accessible, any conclusion drawn from it is reliable and undisputable. Population studies on the gene frequency of these three haptoglobin phenotypes have been conducted all around the world. The study is an attempt in this direction, examining variations in the percentage of various Haptoglobin types and comparing them to previously available data.