α1-Microglobulin (α1-M), ELISA

α1
-microglobulin, a glycoprotein heterogeneous in charge, was reported to occur
both as a monomer of 31kDa as well as a polymer of 90kDa formed by a covalent
binding with one of two alpha chains of the monomeric immunoglobulin A.
α1
-microglobulin is a protein with a small molecular weight produced in the liver.
In healthy persons it is metabolised in the kidneys and only minor amounts can be
detected in the urine.
Increased α1
-microglobulin concentration in serum is detected when the glomerular
filtration rate is limited. In addition, when the ratio of total protein to the sum of albumin
and α1
-microglobulin is disordered, a prerenal proteinuria should be suspected.