page_title: Haptoglobin
hierarchical_section_title: Haptoglobin
caption_attribution_description: English: ribbon/surface model of α,β-hemoglobin/haptoglobin hexamer complex (Hb purple/yellow/orange, Hap pink) from pig, with heme ligand as VDW model, after PDB 4F4O. Ref.: Andersen, C.B.F., Torvund-Jensen, M., Nielsen, M.J., et al., Pedersen, J.S., Andersen, G.R., and Moestrup, S.K., in 2012 in a paper entitled "Structure of the Haptoglobin-Haemoglobin Complex" in Nature This 3D molecular image was created with VMD
context_page_description: Haptoglobin is the protein that in humans is encoded by the HP gene. In blood plasma, haptoglobin binds to free hemoglobin, compared to hemopexin that binds to free heme, released from erythrocytes with high affinity, and thereby inhibits its deleterious oxidative activity. The haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex will then be removed by the reticuloendothelial system.
  In clinical settings, the haptoglobin assay is used to screen for and monitor intravascular hemolytic anemia. In intravascular hemolysis, free hemoglobin will be released into circulation and hence haptoglobin will bind the hemoglobin. This causes a decline in haptoglobin levels.
context_section_description: Haptoglobin (abbreviated as Hp) is the protein that in humans is encoded by the HP gene. In blood plasma, haptoglobin binds to free hemoglobin, compared to hemopexin that binds to free heme, released from erythrocytes with high affinity, and thereby inhibits its deleterious oxidative activity.  The haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex will then be removed by the reticuloendothelial system (mostly the spleen).
  In clinical settings, the haptoglobin assay is used to screen for and monitor intravascular hemolytic anemia. In intravascular hemolysis, free hemoglobin will be released into circulation and hence haptoglobin will bind the hemoglobin. This causes a decline in haptoglobin levels.
caption: A model of α,β-hemoglobin/haptoglobin hexamer complex. There are 2 α,β-hemoglobin dimers depicted: one space filling model (yellow/orange), and one ribbon model (purple/blue). Each is bound by a haptoglobin molecule (both haptoglobin molecules are shown in pink, with one as a space filling model and one as a ribbon model).
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