SERPINA antibodies target members of the SERPINA protein family, a subgroup of serine protease inhibitors critical for regulating protease activity in biological processes. The SERPINA family, notably SERPINA1 (α1-antitrypsin, AAT), SERPINA3 (α1-antichymotrypsin), and SERPINA5 (protein C inhibitor), plays essential roles in controlling inflammation, coagulation, and tissue remodeling by inhibiting proteases like neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, and thrombin. SERPINA1. the most studied member, is primarily synthesized in the liver and protects lung tissue from enzymatic damage. Mutations in the SERPINA1 gene cause alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), leading to emphysema and liver disease due to uncontrolled protease activity and protein aggregation.
Antibodies against SERPINA proteins are widely used in research and diagnostics. For example, SERPINA1 antibodies help quantify AAT levels in serum to diagnose AATD or monitor therapeutic interventions like AAT augmentation therapy. SERPINA3 antibodies are employed in studying Alzheimer's disease and cancer, as elevated SERPINA3 correlates with amyloid plaque formation and tumor progression. Autoantibodies against SERPINA proteins have also been implicated in autoimmune conditions, such as anti-SERPINA1 antibodies in vasculitis. Their roles in disease mechanisms and therapeutic targeting make SERPINA antibodies vital tools for understanding protease-imbalance-related pathologies and developing biomarker-driven treatments.