Ferritin (Labkit)

Immunoturbidimetric method

Product description:

Ferritin is a ubiquitous protein found in all cells that prevent iron-induced oxidative damage and acts as a reservoir for local supply of iron for future needs. Ferritin has a high capacity for holding iron while in its ferric state (Fe3+). Ferritin can carry up to 4500 iron molecules in its core. The ferritin complex contains two types of chains: the heavy chains (L) gather iron quickly and retain it through enzymatic ferroxidase activity, while light chains (L) lack this enzyme activity but facilitate iron storage.

Ferritin is cytosolic, withsmall amounts present in the serum, where it functions as an iron carrier. Serum ferritin concentration is proportional to cellular ferritin production and is upregulated by the iron response protein (IRP): iron response element (IRE) system.Thus circulating ferritin is an indirect marker of the total amount of iron stored in the body.

Serum ferritin levels are measured in medical laboratories as part of the iron studies workup for iron-deficiency anemia.However, ferritin levels may be artificially high in case of chronic anaemia where ferritin is elevated in its capacity as an inflammatory acute phase protein and not as a marker for iron overload.