Back to your search result

Description

Serpin B13 (UniProt: Q8CDC0) is encoded by the Serpinb13 gene (Gene ID: 241196) in murine species. Serpin B13 is a cytoplasmic protein that plays a role in the proliferation or differentiation of keratinocytes. Two isoforms of Serpin B13 have been described that are generated by alternative splicing. Serpin B13 acts as a serine proteinase inhibitor and studies have shown a strong induction of serpin B13 in the pancreas of mice during the first few weeks of life. Cathepsin L and K appear to be the targets of serpin B13 action. Serpin B13 is expressed in pancreas with low levels of expression in pancreatic islets and larger expression in the exocrine pancreas. Secretion of anti-serpin B13 autoantibodies in young diabetes-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice is shown to be associated with reduced inflammation in pancreatic islets and a slower progression to autoimmune diabetes. Anti-serpin B13 autoantibodies are shown to protect NOD mice against diabetes before 16 weeks of age. Reduced expression of serpin B13 autoantibodies is associated with development of type I diabetes in human before 5 years of age. Mice injected with monoclonal anti-serpin B13 display few inflammatory cells in the islets and rapid recovery from recent onset diabetes.