PP13

PP13 is an acronym that can refer to more than one concept in biology and medicine. In obstetrics, PP13 commonly denotes placental protein 13, a small secreted protein produced by placental trophoblasts and detectable in maternal serum during pregnancy. PP13 has been studied as a potential biomarker for pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. PP13 research explored whether low or altered PP13 levels in early pregnancy predict later complications, and several commercial assays have been developed. However, findings across studies are not entirely consistent, and PP13 testing is not universally adopted as a standard screening tool. Ongoing work aims to clarify its predictive value, understand its biological role in placental function, and integrate PP13 with other markers to improve risk assessment.

In enzymology, PP13 can also refer to a protein phosphatase 13, a member of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase family. Enzymes in this family regulate phosphorylation states of cellular proteins and participate in various signaling pathways. Specifics such as substrate preference, regulatory partners, and physiological roles vary by species and gene nomenclature, and PP13 is not a universally standardized term for a single enzyme across all organisms. As with placental PP13, the exact identity and function of a phosphatase designated PP13 should be confirmed from the relevant taxonomic and publication context.

Because PP13 is an acronym used in different disciplines, its meaning should be inferred from the surrounding scientific context and cited sources.