Parvalbumin

Parvalbumin is a calcium binding albumin protein.

It has three EF hand motifs and is structurally related to calmodulin and troponin C. Parvalbumin is localised in fast-contracting muscles, where its levels are highest, and in the brain and some endocrine tissues.

Neuronal role of parvalbumin
Parvalbumin is present in GABAergic interneurons in the nervous system, predominantly expressed by chandelier and basket cells in the cortex. In the hippocampus, PV+ interneurons are subdivided into basket, axo-axonic, bistratified, and oriens-lacunosum moleculare (O-LM) cells, each subtype targeting distinct domains of pyramidal cells. Parvalbumin (PV) interneurons' connections are mostly perisomatic (around the cell body of neurons). Most of the PV interneurons are fast-spiking. They are also thought to give rise to gamma waves recorded in EEG.

PV-expressing interneurons represent approximately 25% of GABA cells in the primate DLPFC. Other calcium-binding protein markers are calretinin (most abundant subtype in DLPFC, about 50%) and calbindin. Interneurons are also divided into subgroups by the expression of neuropeptides (somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, cholecystokinin).

Role in pathology
Decreased PV and GAD67 expression was found in PV+ GABAergic interneurons in schizophrenia.

PV has been identified as an allergen causing seafood allergy.