The inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitors (ITI) are a family of structurally related plasma serine protease inhibitors involved in extracellular matrix stabilization and in prevention of tumor metastasis. The ITI family contains multiple proteins made up of a light chain (see MIM 176870) and a variable number of heavy chains (Salier et al., 1987 [PubMed 2446322]; Himmelfarb et al., 2004 [PubMed 14744536]).[supplied by OMIM, Nov 2009],function:May act as a carrier of hyaluronan in serum or as a binding protein between hyaluronan and other matrix protein, including those on cell surfaces in tissues to regulate the localization, synthesis and degradation of hyaluronan which are essential to cells undergoing biological processes.,mass spectrometry: PubMed:9677337,PTM:Heavy chains are linked to bikunin via chondroitin 4-sulfate esterified to the alpha-carboxyl of the C-terminal aspartate after propeptide cleavage.,similarity:Belongs to the ITIH family.,similarity:Contains 1 VWFA domain.,subunit:I-alpha-I plasma protease inhibitors are assembled from one or two heavy chains (H1, H2 or H3) and one light chain, bikunin. Inter-alpha-inhibitor (I-alpha-I) is composed of H1, H2 and bikunin, inter-alpha-like inhibitor (I-alpha-LI) of H2 and bikunin, and pre-alpha-inhibitor (P-alpha-I) of H3 and bikunin.,