Cystatin C is a non-glycosylated basic protein belonging to the super-family of cysteine proteinase inhibitors. It consists of a single polypeptide chain having 120 amino acids.
It is produced by all nucleated cells within the body and is released during phagocytosis and inflammation. In the kidney, cystatin C is freely filtrated through the glomerulus and eabsorbed and catabolized in the proximal renal tubules. The rate of cystatin C synthesis is constant, independent of age, gender and muscle mass. High concentrations can be found in serum, seminal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and synovial fluid, and lower
concentrations can be found in urine.
In human medicine, cystatin C is the most important endogenous serum marker of renal function assessment. Cystatin C evaluation is able to detect an earlier stage of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) than other parameters (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance etc.) and it is considered particularly useful in patients with a high risk of developing nephropathies. Imbalance between cystatin C and cysteine proteinases is associated with inflammation, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy. An increased level has been found in patients
with autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, low concentration of cystatin C presents a risk factor for secondary cardiovascular events. In veterinary medicine, there are multiple reports of the use of cystatin C in the evaluation of renal function indicating that cystatin C is also the most important serum (urine) marker of renal function assessment in dogs.
Enzyme Immunoassay for the quantitative determination Cystatin C in canine serum and urine.
RESOURCES
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