betaglobulins

Beta globulins, or beta globulins (beta- or β-globulins), are a group of serum proteins that migrate in the beta region on electrophoretic separation. They are a heterogeneous fraction composed of several proteins with diverse roles, primarily related to transport and immune function. The most prominent members are transferrin, which transports iron; beta-lipoprotein, a component of lipoproteins involved in lipid transport; plasminogen, the precursor of plasmin in fibrinolysis; and various components of the complement system, notably C3 and C4. Other beta globulins include beta-2-microglobulin and several acute-phase proteins that co-migrate in this region under certain conditions.

Physiologically, beta globulins contribute to mineral and lipid transport, modulate immune and inflammatory responses, and participate in coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways through their constituent proteins. The relative abundance of beta globulins can change in disease, and electrophoretic patterns of serum proteins are used clinically to help diagnose and monitor disorders.

In clinical practice, alterations in the beta globulin fraction may reflect iron status (transferrin levels rise in iron deficiency and fall with inflammation or malnutrition), liver or kidney disease, or infectious/inflammatory states that affect complement proteins. Beta globulin testing is commonly part of serum protein electrophoresis alongside albumin and the other globulin fractions.