The H4P heavy chain of inter-alpha-inhibitor family largely differs in the structure and synthesis of its prolin-rich region from rat to human.

The family of plasma proteins collectively referred to as Inter-alpha-Inhibitor (I alpha I) family is comprised of a set of multi-polypeptide molecules and a single-chain molecule designated I alpha IH4P. Although the 4 heavy chain precursors H1P to H4P that lead to these molecules are evolutionarily related, only H4P harbours a Pro-rich region (PRR) in its C-terminal third. A comparison of hepatic H4P cDNAs in human and rat has now unraveled an extensive variability of this PRR. Within the rat PRR, 6 repeats of a Gly-X-Pro motif participate in a collagen-like pattern that is absent in human. Within the human PRR, a domain that is absent in rat can be transcribed or deleted by alternative splicing which results in two variant forms of human H4P. In rat liver, the single mRNA is up-regulated by an acute, systemic inflammation whereas neither mRNA is up-regulated in human liver. Finally the shortest human mRNA is also transcribed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells where it is down-regulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Therefore, in contrast to what is seen for the ITIH1 to -3 genes, the rat and human ITIH4 gene transcriptions and products thereof present marked differences, which suggests species-specific functions for I alpha IH4P.