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Ceruloplasmin, an Indicator of Copper Status

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Abstract

For clinical purposes, the non-ceruloplasmin copper fraction is routinely derived on the basis that ceruloplasmin binds six Cu atoms. However, this approach is limited because the actual ceruloplasmin copper binding is unclear. We performed direct measurement of the total serum copper and ceruloplasmin in 790 healthy individuals. We used an immunoprecipitation technique to separate ceruloplasmin and determined Cu content. With these values, we calculated the Cu/ceruloplasmin (Cp) ratio and thus generated data to support or discard the theoretical calculation of the non-ceruloplasmin fraction. Average of serum Cu and Cp levels were 18.4 ± 4.4 μmol/l and 390 ± 100 mg/l, respectively. The immunoprecipitation procedure allowed us to calculate a Cu/Cp ratio of 5.8, respectively, which supports the methodology of calculation that assigns a mean of six copper atoms to each ceruloplasmin molecule. With these values, we calculated that, in apparently normal adults, the non-ceruloplasmin copper (NCPC) fraction is lower than 1.3 μmol/l of Cu. In this report, we examine the Cp/Cu ratio by using Cp immunoprecipitation procedure. Our in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that, as a mean, there are 5.8 atoms of Cu per Cp molecule and that <1.3 μmol/l of Cu would correspond to the NCPC.

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Abbreviations

Cp:

Ceruloplasmin

Cu:

copper

NCPC:

non-ceruloplasmin copper

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Corporación Chilena del Cobre (Cochilco), International Copper Association (ICA, NY, USA), Corporación para Apoyo de la Investigación Científica en Nutrición (CINUT) and Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (Fondecyt) 1040979 from M. Araya, in the form of unrestricted grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Micronutrient Laboratory, Nutrition and Food Technology Institute (INTA), University of Chile, El Líbano, 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile

    Miguel Arredondo, Manuel Olivares, Fernando Pizarro & Magdalena Araya

  2. Bioinformatic and Genetic Expression Laboratory, Nutrition and Food Technology Institute (INTA), University of Chile, El Líbano, 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile

    Mauricio González

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  1. Miguel Arredondo
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  2. Mauricio González
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  3. Manuel Olivares
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  4. Fernando Pizarro
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  5. Magdalena Araya
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Correspondence to Miguel Arredondo.

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Arredondo, M., González, M., Olivares, M. et al. Ceruloplasmin, an Indicator of Copper Status. Biol Trace Elem Res 123, 261–269 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8110-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8110-2

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