Acute phase protein

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Acute-phase proteins are a class of proteins that are synthetized in the liver in response to inflammation. This response is called the acute-phase reaction.

Inflammatory cells and red blood cells

In response to injury, local inflammatory cells (neutrophil granulocytes and macrophages) secrete a number of cytokines into the bloodstream, most notable of which are the interleukins IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8, and TNF-alpha.

The liver responds by producing a large number of acute-phase reactants, most notable of which are:

C-reactive protein
Mannose-binding protein
Alpha 1-antitrypsin
Alpha 1-antichymotrypsin
Alpha 2-macroglobulin
some coagulation factors (Fibrinogen, prothrombin, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, plasminogen)
Complement factors
Ferritin
Serum amyloid P component (see amyloid)

Serum albumin concentrations fall in acute disease states. For this reason albumin is sometimes referred to as a negative acute phase protein.

Measurement of acute phase proteins is a useful marker of inflammation in both medical and veterinary clinical pathology.

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