PAPP-A Antibody / Pappalysin-1

Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein (PAPP-A) is found in maternal blood that increases as pregnancy progresses, although it is not specific to pregnancy. It is principally expressed in the syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, which forms the main source of circulating maternal PAPP-A. It cleaves insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5. IGFBP-4 cleavage is enhanced significantly in the presence of bound IGF, whereas IGFBP-5 cleavage is inhibited slightly by IGF presence. It is thought to be involved in local proliferative processes such as wound healing and bone remodeling. Low plasma level of this protein has been suggested as a biochemical marker for pregnancies with aneuploid fetuses. PAPPA has also been suggested as a potential biomarker of acute myocardial infarction and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).