(Inter-alpha Trypsin Inhibitor, Heavy Chain 1 (ITIH1))
The protein encoded by this gene is the heavy chain of a serine protease inhibitor that may serve to carry hyaluronan in plasma. This gene is part of a cluster of similar genes on chromosome 3. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2009].
Gu, Duce, Valova, Wong, Bush, Petrou, Wiley: "P2X7 receptor-mediated scavenger activity of mononuclear phagocytes toward non-opsonized particles and apoptotic cells is inhibited by serum glycoproteins but remains active in cerebrospinal fluid." in: The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol. 287, Issue 21, pp. 17318-30, (2012) (PubMed).