What is the acute phase protein?

Acute phase protein concerns a protein that is undergoing a rapid change in serum concentration during response to a specific event or reaction in the body. These proteins are often produced by liver cells or immune cells and are usually part of an inflammatory response. This reaction may occur in response to trauma, pathogen, cancer or many other abnormal events. The level of the acute phase protein serum changes approximately within an hour and a half after the event in the body.

Acute phase proteins can be induced or suppressed in response to the event. The induced protein is called the positive acute phase protein, while the protein that is suppressed is called the negative acute phase protein. The induction and repression of these proteins in the body generates a profile that can be measured using sera tests in the blood. The concentration of this factor may be increased in tissue in response to a microbial attacker to participate in a response that effectively destroys microbe. An example of a negative acute phase protein is an albumin protein thatIn certain circumstances, it may inhibit the necessary inflammatory response in its normal blood concentration.

Acute phase response is a carefully regulated process in the body under normal conditions and the coordinated expression of these proteins is essential for proper health. For example, when trauma occurs in a certain area, factors that induce and inhibit cell death will be released. In the initial stage of the event, a factor that causes cellular death will be required and cleans cell residues, as it is necessary to remove the tissue area that has been damaged. However, it is important to balance this with the release of factors that turn off the cell cleaning components to prevent healthy, normal surrounding tissue.

If the response of the acute phase protein is not properly controlled, the results may be harmful. An example of this is a chronic inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the release of these factors canThe area of ​​the body where foreign pathogen is perceived, such as joints, lead to chronic pain and possible destruction of joint tissue.

Another example of a deregulated acute phase protein is in the case of certain cancers. In the early phase of cancer, the factor of tumor necrosis (TNF) is released and destroys cancer cells in the body. However, as cancer proceeds, there is evidence that TNF can sometimes start a number of complex reactions that help grow tumor cells and spread. The reason is not well understood. In this case, what has begun to respond to the body help becomes harmful to the body.