Non-specific plasma proteins and blood cell components

Non-specific plasma proteins and blood cell components refer to the collective group of proteins and cellular elements in the blood that interact with drugs but are not the intended therapeutic targets. The primary plasma proteins involved include human serum albumin (HSA), which typically binds acidic and neutral drugs, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), which has a high affinity for basic drugs [1][5]. Blood cell components, such as hemoglobin and the membranes of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, also play a role in the sequestration and transport of various pharmacological agents [2]. While these interactions are generally non-specific and reversible, they are fundamental determinants of a drug's pharmacokinetic profile, influencing its volume of distribution, clearance, and the concentration of the pharmacologically active free fraction [3]. Pathological states such as liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, or chronic inflammation can significantly alter the concentrations of these components, leading to unpredictable drug responses or increased risk of toxicity [4]. Understanding these interactions is critical for clinical dosing, particularly for drugs with narrow therapeutic indices that are highly protein-bound [1][3]. Sources: [1] StatPearls. (2023). Plasma Protein Binding. NCBI. [2] Merck Manual Professional Version. (2023). Drug Distribution to Tissues. [3] PubMed. (1991). The importance of drug-protein binding. PMID: 1913202. [4] UniProt. (2024). Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 1 (P02763). [5] UniProt. (2024). Serum albumin (P02768).

Other names

Plasma proteinsBlood componentsSerum proteinsCirculating proteinsBlood cell constituentsPlasma protein binding sites

Non-specific reversible binding, Sequestration, Transport, Buffering