Human Serum Albumin (HSA)

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant protein in mammalian plasma and is generally considered to be a multifunctional transport protein. HSA is a signle-chain protein synthesized in and secreted from liver cells. HSA has significant antioxidant activity and may represent the major and predominant circulating antioxidant in plasma, which is known to be exposed to continuous oxidative stress. HSA protects human low density lipoproteins against coppermediated oxidation and blood against hemolysis by free radicals. HSA which are exposed to glucose and have a relatively slow turnover rate are particularly susceptible to nonenzymatic glycosylation. Structural changes in glycosylated albumin lead to a reduction in affinity for fatty acid.