Question

The protein ${\alpha }_1$-antitrypsin is used to treat which of the following diseases?

• A. Cancer
• B. Rheumatoid arthritis
• C. Alzheimer's disease
• D. Emphysema

Answer 1

The correct option is D Emphysema

${\alpha }_1$-antitrypsin is a protein that protects tissues from enzymes of inflammatory cells, i.e. slows down inflammation. It is used to treat emphysema, as the latter is an inflammatory disease. Transgenic animals that produce useful biological products can be created by the introduction of genes that code for a particular product such as the human protein ${\alpha }_1$ antitrypsin.