Ceruloplasmin

Ceruloplasmin (or caeruloplasmin) is officially known as ferroxidase or iron(II):oxygen oxidoreductase.

Function
It is an enzyme synthesized in the liver containing 6 atoms of copper in its structure. Ceruloplasmin carries 90% of the copper in our plasma. The other 10% is carried by albumin, albumin may be confused at times to have a greater importance as a copper carrier because it binds copper less tightly than ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin exhibits a copper-dependent oxidase activity, which is associated with possible oxidation of Fe2+ (ferrous iron) into Fe3+ (ferric iron), therefore assisting in its transport in the plasma in association with transferrin, which can only carry iron in the ferric state.

Pathology
Like any other plasma protein, levels drop in patients with hepatic disease due to reduced synthesizing capabilities.

Mutations in the ceruloplasmin gene can lead to the rare genetic human disease aceruloplasminemia, characterized by iron overload in the brain, liver, pancreas, and retina.

Decreased levels
Lower-than-normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:
 * Menkes disease (Menke's kinky hair syndrome) (very rare)
 * Wilson's disease (a rare copper storage disease)
 * Overdose of vitamin C
 * Copper deficiency
 * Aceruloplasminemia

Elevated levels
Greater-than-normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:
 * pregnancy
 * lymphoma
 * acute and chronic inflammation (it is an acute-phase reactant)
 * rheumatoid arthritis