What is the purpose of transferrin?

Transferrin is the main protein in the blood that binds to iron and transports it throughout the body.

What is serum transferrin?

Serum transferrin receptors are truncated soluble receptors that are shed into the circulation mainly from the erythroblasts in the marrow. 83. The measurement reflects both the iron status of individual eythroblasts and the total mass of the erythron.

What is the function of ferritin and transferrin?

Most of the transferrin-bound iron is used for the synthesis of hemoglobin by developing erythroid cells. Senescent erythrocytes are internalized by the macrophages that liberate hemoglobin iron and release it back to plasma transferrin at a rate that normally matches the rate of iron transport for erythropoiesis.

What is the role of transferrin in the cycle?

Transferrins are glycoproteins found in vertebrates which bind to and consequently mediate the transport of Iron (Fe) through blood plasma. They are produced in the liver and contain binding sites for two Fe3+ ions.

What causes transferrin?

Your liver makes transferrin. When your body’s stores of iron run low, your liver produces more transferrin to get more iron into your blood. Iron plays many important roles in your body, including helping your red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells in your body.

What is the main difference between transferrin and ferritin?

Transferrin is the main iron transporting protein in the circulation. Ferritin concentrations reflect the body’s iron stores.

What is a normal serum transferrin level?

The normal range for transferrin is 204 to 360 mg/dl. If you have a higher amount, you may have iron-deficiency anemia. If you have a lower level, you may have another problem, such as liver disease and hemolytic anemia. Transferrin may also be measured using a value called total iron-binding capacity (TIBC).

What causes low serum transferrin?

Low transferrin can be due to poor production of transferrin by the liver (where it’s made) or excessive loss of transferrin through the kidneys into the urine. Many conditions including infection and malignancy can depress transferrin levels. The transferrin is abnormally high in iron deficiency anemia.

What’s the difference between transferrin and ferritin?

Although ferritin is an indicator of cellular iron stores in healthy subjects, it provides little information on iron turnover in the body. Transferrin is a “shuttle protein” (24), mainly synthesized in the liver, and its principal role is to transport ionic iron to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow (25).

Why does serum transferrin increase in iron deficiency?

When your body’s stores of iron run low, your liver produces more transferrin to get more iron into your blood. Iron plays many important roles in your body, including helping your red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells in your body. Nearly all the iron in your body is normally attached to transferrin.

What is a normal transferrin level?

Results are given in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The normal range for transferrin is 204 to 360 mg/dl. If you have a higher amount, you may have iron-deficiency anemia. If you have a lower level, you may have another problem, such as liver disease and hemolytic anemia.

What causes low transferrin?

What causes high transferrin?

Transferrin levels rise with iron deficiency and fall in cases of iron overload. An increase in transferrin is seen in iron deficiency anemia. It may also be increased late in pregnancy and in women on oral contraceptives.

What causes high ferritin levels?

A doctor would expect higher than normal ferritin levels in people with these and other inflammatory conditions. The most common causes of elevated ferritin levels are obesity, inflammation, and daily alcohol intake. The most common causes of genetic-related elevated ferritin levels is the condition hemochromatosis.

Is transferrin saturation same as iron saturation?

Transferrin saturation indicates iron deficiency if it is less than 20% and indicates iron overload, if it is greater than 50%. The reference range of Transferrin Serum Iron Saturation varies by age where, for adults ranges from 20%-50% and for children it is greater than 16%.

What is transferrin saturation mean?

Transferrin saturation. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Transferrin saturation, measured as a percentage, is a medical laboratory value. It is the value of serum iron divided by the total iron-binding capacity.