Pzp

What is PZP Protein?

PZP, or Pregnancy Zone Protein, is a big protein that really takes off in a woman's blood when she's pregnant. It's part of a group that helps keep the immune system in check and protects tissues from getting damaged by enzymes. But it's not just about pregnancy. PZP shows up in all sorts of diseases, like cancer, autoimmune problems, and inflammation. It might even mess with tumor growth and how the immune system works. Scientists are really curious about it because it could be a useful marker for ovarian cancer. Plus, it plays a huge role in making sure the mom's immune system doesn't attack the baby, which makes it super important for reproductive health.

What is the Function of PZP Protein?

PZP is this cool protein that really steps up during pregnancy. It’s like a superhero, protecting tissues from damage and keeping the mom’s immune system from going after the baby. But it’s not just a pregnancy thing. PZP also pops up in cancer and other diseases, where it can mess with tumor growth and immune responses. Scientists are super interested in it because it could be a key player in diagnosing and treating all sorts of conditions.

PZP Related Signaling Pathway

PZP, or Pregnancy Zone Protein, is a key player in keeping our immune system in check and preventing tissue damage. It works closely with a receptor called LRP1 to clear out harmful enzymes and tweak cell signals. By blocking these enzymes, PZP shields tissues from harm and helps manage immune responses. It also impacts how immune cells and cytokines behave. In cancer, PZP can influence the tumor’s environment and help it avoid detection. All these roles make PZP a promising target for treating inflammation and cancer.

PZP Related Diseases

PZP, or Pregnancy Zone Protein, pops up in a bunch of diseases, especially ones that mess with the immune system or cause tissue damage. In autoimmune problems, PZP can go haywire and lead to inflammation and tissue breakdown. It’s also a player in cancer, where it can affect how tumors signal and dodge the immune system through its interaction with a receptor called LRP1. PZP also helps block enzymes, which is important in diseases with too much tissue breakdown. All these links make PZP a good candidate for diagnosing and treating immune and cancer-related issues.

Bioapplications of PZP

PZP, or Pregnancy Zone Protein, is a versatile player in the body, doing everything from balancing the immune system to helping diagnose diseases. As a protease inhibitor, it shields tissues from enzyme damage, making it crucial for studying inflammatory and degenerative conditions. In pregnancy, it helps the mom’s immune system tolerate the baby, which is key for a healthy pregnancy. In cancer research, PZP is being explored as a marker for ovarian cancer, where its levels seem to correlate with disease severity. Its interaction with the LRP1 receptor also provides insights into tumor signaling and potential treatments. All these roles make PZP a valuable asset in both diagnostics and therapeutics.

Case Study 1: Hu Z. et al. J Proteome Res. 2023

Researchers found a new way to detect senescent cells by studying skin fibroblasts exposed to radiation. They discovered that a protein called pregnancy zone protein (PZP) decreases inside cells but increases outside them. This change in PZP levels is a new marker for cellular senescence. Tests showed that PZP activity rises in senescent cells and can protect against drug-induced aging, suggesting it could be a useful target for anti-aging therapies.

• 
  Fig1. Western blotting confirmed low-level cellular PZP in senescent BJ fibroblasts.
• 
  Fig2. Dramatic elevation of PZP serum levels in pregnant women at late pregnancy.

Case Study 2: Kumar R. et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021

Scientists studied a protein called PZP, which usually goes up during pregnancy, to see if it affects breast cancer. They used CRISPR to remove PZP from cancer cells and found that these cells grew faster and were better at moving around. Without PZP, the cells also resisted treatment and lived longer. They saw more activity in a pathway that helps cancer cells survive. Looking at data from over 1,200 patients, they found that having less PZP was linked to worse outcomes, especially in a type of cancer called triple-negative. This shows PZP might be important for fighting cancer.

• 
  Fig3. PZP amplicon (480 bp) following T7 endonuclease assay was separated using electrophoresis on 2.5% agarose gel.
• 
  Fig4. Expression of phospho-SMAD2, phospho-SMAD3, total SMAD2/3 and SMAD4 in wild-type and PZP knockout cells using Western blot analysis.

• 
  Fig1. Potential protective functions of PZP and PAI-2 in pregnancy. (Amy R Wyatt, 2016)
• 
  Fig2. Illustration of the pathways and interaction factors associated with PZP. (You Wu, 2025)

Pzp has several biochemical functions, for example, endopeptidase inhibitor activity,serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity. Some of the functions are cooperated with other proteins, some of the functions could acted by Pzp itself. We selected most functions Pzp had, and list some proteins which have the same functions with Pzp. You can find most of the proteins on our site.

Function	Related Protein
serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity	SERPINB2,MUG2,SERPINB5,SERPINI2,ITIH1,COL28A1,SPINK13,SERPINH2,RECK,OVAL
endopeptidase inhibitor activity	AHSG,SPINK2,SLPI,SERPINA1A,PCSK1N,SERPINA1E,UCHL5,C5,WFDC2,PI3

Pzp has direct interactions with proteins and molecules. Those interactions were detected by several methods such as yeast two hybrid, co-IP, pull-down and so on. We selected proteins and molecules interacted with Pzp here. Most of them are supplied by our site. Hope this information will be useful for your research of Pzp.