Alpha-2-Macroglobulin in Inflammation, Immunity and Infections

Overview

Journal Front Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2021 Dec 31

PMID 34970276

Citations 87

Authors

Jennifer Vandooren

Yoshifumi Itoh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Alpha-2-macroglobulin is an extracellular macromolecule mainly known for its role as a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor. By presenting itself as an optimal substrate for endopeptidases of all catalytic types, alpha-2-macroglobulin lures active proteases into its molecular cage and subsequently 'flags' their complex for elimination. In addition to its role as a regulator of extracellular proteolysis, alpha-2-macroglobulin also has other functions such as switching proteolysis towards small substrates, facilitating cell migration and the binding of cytokines, growth factors and damaged extracellular proteins. These functions appear particularly important in the context of immune-cell function. In this review manuscript, we provide an overview of all functions of alpha-2-macroglobulin and place these in the context of inflammation, immunity and infections.

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