ITIH4 Antibody

The inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI, I-alpha-I) family is a classic example of protein-glycosaminoglycoprotein (PGP) complexes. They occur constitutively in plasma at relatively high concentrations and results from alternating combinations of three kinds of heavy chains with a common light chain called the bikunin proteoglycan. Bikunin has two proteinase inhibotor domains and belongs to the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family; it displays an inhibitory activity against trypsin, leukocyte elastase and plasmin. The heavy chains do not have any protease inhibitory properties but have the capacity to interact in vitro and in vivo with hyaluronic acid and this binding promotes the stability of the extra-cellular matrix. The ITI protein family is suspected of playing a key role in the extra-cellular matrix biology.