Physiological Role of Human Albumin

Physiological Role of Human Albumin

• Albumin, due to its high negative electrical charge, binds and transports molecules with positive charge, drugs, and unesterified fatty acids, maintaining normal plasma levels of these substances.
• Albumin participates in chemical buffering of blood plasma, accepting four hydrogen ions between pH 6.5 and 5, and serving as a "shuttle" that minimizes changes in hydrogen ion concentration.

Functions of Human Albumin

• Albumin exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, scavenging enzymes and substances secreted by immune cells during inflammation.
• Albumin is involved in regulating osmotic pressure in the interstitial space, although to a lesser extent than hyaluronic acid.
• Albumin maintains oncotic pressure, serves as a diluent for other drugs, bilirubin, and nutrients, and acts as a free radical scavenger, depot, and transporter for metal ions, hormones, therapeutic drugs, and other biologically heterogeneous molecules.
• Albumin mediates ligand-receptor interactions and binding mechanics.

Impact of Albumin Levels on Clinical Outcomes

• Hypoalbuminemia can occur in the presence of hepatic-related diseases.
• Lower albumin levels reduce plasma volume availability, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues, decreased effective blood circulation volume, and increased activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, favoring systemic hypertension.
• Albumin levels affect vital organ functions, and decreased serum concentration impairs drug transportation.
• Full recovery of albumin levels is challenging in chronic diseases with elevated albumin catabolism, but can return to normal when chronic diseases are structurally cured.

Learn about the physiological functions of human albumin, including its role in binding and transporting molecules, chemical buffering, and anti-inflammatory effects.