What are alpha beta and gamma globulins?

What are alpha beta and gamma globulins?

Alpha globulins are a type of serum globulins produced in the liver, while beta globulins are another type of globulins present in the blood. Meanwhile, gamma globulins are immunoglobulins that work as antibodies.

What is gamma globulin blood test?

This blood test measures gamma globulins and other proteins in your blood. It can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions, including disorders of the immune system and a type of cancer called multiple myeloma.

What are the 3 types of globulins?

Globulins are roughly divided into three groups: alpha, beta, and gamma globulins. Gamma globulins include various types of antibodies such as immunoglobulins (Ig) M, G, and A. Certain diseases are associated with producing too many immunoglobulins.

What is the difference between alpha and beta globulins?

Alpha globulins are blood proteins that are produced in the liver that serve several functions in the body. Beta globulins are also blood proteins produced in the liver, with a similar structure to the alpha types.

What do alpha and beta globulins do?

Alpha and beta globulins are transport proteins, serve as substrates upon which other substances are formed, and perform other diverse functions. Gamma globulins have a vital role in natural and acquired immunity to infection. See also gamma globulin.

What diseases does Spep test for?

Your doctor may recommend SPEP if you are experiencing symptoms of a condition affecting the proteins in your blood serum….Some of the conditions that could be causing these symptoms are:

• cancer.
• thyroid problems.
• diabetes.
• anemia.
• liver diseases.
• malnutrition.
• certain autoimmune diseases.
• multiple sclerosis.

What does Alpha globulin do?

Alpha globulins are a group of globular proteins in plasma that are highly mobile in alkaline or electrically charged solutions. They inhibit certain blood proteases and show significant inhibitor activity.

What does a high alpha-1 globulin mean?

High alpha-1 globulin: Infection; inflammation. High alpha-2 globulin: Inflammation; kidney disease. High beta globulin: Very high cholesterol; low iron (iron-deficiency anemia) High gamma globulin: Inflammation; infection; liver disease; some forms of cancer.

What is the difference between immunoglobulin and gamma globulin?

Overview. Immunoglobulin (also called gamma globulin or immune globulin) is a substance made from human blood plasma. The plasma, processed from donated human blood, contains antibodies that protect the body against diseases.

Are immunoglobulins the same as gamma globulins?

What does it mean if your gamma globulin is low?

Low levels of gamma globulins suggest the under-production of antibodies as found in certain genetic diseases (bubble boy agammaglobulinemia) and leukemia. Other tests can more accurately identify which fraction or sub-component of gamma globulins may be abnormal (protein immunofixation, free kappa or lambda chains).

What kind of protein test is gamma globulin?

The total protein test measures alpha 1, alpha 2, beta globulin, and another liver protein called albumin. Low protein levels may signal liver or kidney disease. The serum protein electrophoresis measures gamma globulin and other proteins in the blood.

How are globulins measured in a blood test?

There are four types of globulins: alpha 1, alpha 2, beta, and gamma. Two types of globulin tests can be used to measure globulins: a total protein test and a serum protein electrophoresis test. The total protein test measures alpha 1, alpha 2, beta globulin, and another liver protein called albumin.

What’s the difference between alpha beta and gamma globulins?

Alpha and beta globulins work as enzymes, but gamma globulins do not work as enzymes. Moreover, gamma globulins work as antibodies and involve in immune responses while alpha and beta globulins do not. Below infographic tabulates the difference between alpha beta and gamma globulins.

Why do alpha and gamma globulin protein levels increase?

In general, alpha and gamma globulin protein levels increase when there is inflammation in the body. Lipoprotein electrophoresis determines the amount of proteins made up of protein and fat, called lipoproteins (such as LDL cholesterol). The examples above are common measurements for results of these tests.