Serpin family A member 9 (SERPINA9)

Serpin family A member 9 (SERPINA9) is a member of the serpin superfamily of serine protease inhibitors, with prominent expression restricted to germinal center B cells of lymphoid tissue. The protein, also known as centerin or GCET1, inhibits trypsin-like proteases efficiently, and shows some inhibitory activity against plasmin and thrombin. Biophysical analyses reveal a conserved serpin domain and conformational dynamics essential for its inhibitory function. SERPINA9 serves as a highly specific marker for germinal center B-cells in both health and in lymphoid cancers, supporting diagnostic distinction between tumor subtypes like follicular lymphoma and some Hodgkin lymphomas. Genetic variation in SERPINA9 may predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease, such as ischemic stroke. No direct drugs targeting SERPINA9 are currently noted, but its presence and expression are exploited in clinical pathology as biomarkers.

Other names

Serpin A9centerinGCET1SERPINA11SERPINA11bgerminal center B-cell-expressed transcript 1 proteinserine proteinase inhibitor A11serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A (alpha-1 antiproteinase, antitrypsin), member 9SPA9SPA9_HUMAN

Protease inhibition: drugs or biologics could affect its interaction with target proteases (trypsin-like, thrombin, plasmin), but no specific drug established