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SHBG Protein

Meaning

SHBG Protein, or Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, is a glycoprotein synthesized primarily by the liver that functions as the principal transport protein for sex hormones, specifically testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol, in the blood plasma. SHBG regulates the bioavailability of these hormones by binding to them with high affinity, rendering them biologically inactive. The concentration of SHBG is a crucial determinant of the amount of free, or active, sex hormones available to target tissues, making its measurement a vital tool in clinical endocrinology.