Cystatin C

Cystatin 3 , often called Cystatin C ( Eng. Cystatin 3, CST3, Cystatin C, Gamma-trace ) is a protein belonging to the 2nd group of the genetic family of cystatins . Cystatin C is found in human blood plasma, the function of removing protein from the body is carried out by the kidneys. Studies have shown that cystatin C is a more accurate marker of renal function than creatinine . Cystatin C (along with inulin ) is today regarded as the “gold standard” for determining glomerular filtration rate as an integral indicator of kidney function. Unlike creatinine, factors such as age, gender, muscle mass, diet, and inflammatory reactions do not affect the rate of synthesis of cystatin C. In humans, the normal level of cystatin C in plasma at the age of 14 to 50 years is 0.63-1.33 mg / l, and over the age of 50 years is 0.74-1.55 mg / l.

Editing Cystatin C
Designations
Characters	Cst3
Entrez gene	1471
Hgnc	2475
Omim	604312
Refseq	NM_000099
Uniprot	P01034
Other data
Locus	20th hr , 20p11.2

Cystatin C is a polypeptide consisting of 120 amino acid residues. All body cells containing nuclei produce cystatin C at a stable rate. The concentration of cystatin C in the blood correlates with the glomerular filtration rate . The level of protein in the blood does not depend on body weight and height, on muscle mass and gender. An increase in the level of cystatin C after a heart attack is an unfavorable sign indicating a violation of the filtering function of the kidneys.

In a large long-term study, it was shown that cystatin C is a predictor of chronic renal failure and cardiovascular disease in the elderly ^[1] .

Mutation of the cystatin C gene is associated with type VI amyloidosis (cerebral arterial amyloidosis). Protein deposits in the brain in this autosomal dominantly inherited disease lead to early strokes, intracranial bleeding, and dementia.

Increased expression of cystatin C was found in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in 61 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy . Maximum expression was observed in 26 patients with hippocampal sclerosis and granular cell dispersion ^[2] .