Prealbumin / Transthyretin (BSB-125), MMab

Summary and Explanation

TTR (TTR, transports thyroxine and retinol, or TBPA) encodes one of the three prealbumins including alpha-1-antitrypsin, transthyretin and orosomucoid. Transthyretin is a carrier protein; it transports thyroid hormones in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, and also transports retinol (vitamin A) in the plasma.  The liver secretes Transthyretin into the blood, and the choroid plexus secretes TTR into the cerebrospinal fluid.

TTR mutations are associated with amyloid deposition, predominantly affecting peripheral nerves or the heart. TTR misfolding and aggregation is known to be associated with the Amyloid Diseases, Senile Systemic Amyloidosis (SSA), Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP), and Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (FAC). Transthyretin amyloidosis is a slowly progressive condition characterized by the buildup of abnormal deposits amyloid (Amyloidosis) in the body’s organs and tissues.

It has been reported that Prealbumin antibody can be used as an immunohistochemical marker for choroid plexus papillomas, as well as carcinomas.  The TTR gene has been found to be suppressed in Hepatic Carcinoma, where the TTR gene was found to be defective in its gene structure, which may have a relevance in its pathogenesis.