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Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO)

Meaning

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) is a critical enzyme synthesized by the thyroid follicular cells, playing an indispensable role in the biosynthesis of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). This membrane-bound glycoprotein catalyzes the key steps of iodide oxidation and the subsequent organification of iodine onto thyroglobulin, as well as the coupling of iodotyrosine residues to form the active hormones. Clinically, the presence of circulating TPO antibodies (TPOAb) is the hallmark diagnostic marker for autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.