Abstract: Human transferrin is one of the most abundant proteins in human plasma. Its the major iron transporting protein in human plasma and extracelluar space in tissue. And it transports iron from the place of adsorption and storage to the forming red blood cells, where hemoglobin is synthesized, as well as to other requiring iron positions such as dividing cells. Transferrin is an important antioxidant and anti-microbial protein. Also, it could be applied as an additive in serum-free culture to enhance cell proliferation. Furthermore, transferrin has attracted much attention and shown comprehensive prospects in various clinical applications such as congenital atransferrinemia/hypotransferrinemia, iron binding/regulatory therapy and cancer therapy. Herein, the structure characteristics and physiological function of human transferrin were described. In addition, progress of the purification technique and clinical applications of transferrin were reviewed, which was expected to promote the clinical application of transferrin.

Key words: human transferrin, purification, clinical applications

摘要： 人转铁蛋白是人血浆中含量丰富的一种蛋白，是人血浆和组织细胞外空间主要的铁载体，将铁离子从吸收和储存的地方运输到红细胞供合成血红蛋白用，或输送到体内其他需铁部位如分裂中的细胞。转铁蛋白具有抗氧化和抗菌的作用，可作为无血清培养中的添加剂，促进细胞增殖，临床上在先天性转铁蛋白缺乏症的治疗、铁结合/调节治疗和癌症治疗方面有着广阔的应用前景。综述了转铁蛋白的结构特性和生理功能，以及其分离纯化工艺和临床应用进展，以期促进转铁蛋白在临床上的应用。

关键词: 人转铁蛋白, 分离纯化, 临床应用