Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a major protein in the serum and amniotic fluid of developing mammalian fetuses, but is normally absent in the serum of adult mammals. The AFP gene, a member of the serum albumin gene family, is present in mammals but does not appear to be present in other vertebrates. The AFP gene is expressed abundantly in the yolk sac and fetal liver, and then becomes silenced at birth. This gene is normally silent in the adult liver, but it can be reactivated in the regenerating liver and liver cancer as well as other types of tumors. In addition, elevated maternal serum AFP levels in pregnant women have been found to be associated with neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Based on these observations, AFP has become an important diagnostic biomarker. These clinically relevant features of AFP expression have led to considerable interest in the regulation and function of AFP since its discovery over 50 years ago.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics |
| Subtitle of host publication | Second Edition |
| Pages | 89-91 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080961569 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 27 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Albumin
- Alpha-fetoprotein
- Development
- Down's syndrome
- Gene regulation
- Germ cell tumors
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Liver
- Neural tube defects
- Trisomy 21
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Medicine
