Acute phase proteins – Indicators of inflammation

Dear colleagues,

In our previous post, we discussed a cytokine called TNF-alpha. This week, we will talk about acute phase proteins.

Acute phase proteins are proteins stimulated by certain cytokines produced during different types of inflammatory processes in which there is some degree of tissue damage.

These types of proteins belong to a group of plasma proteins that are mainly synthesised in the liver. If their production is increased, they are called positive acute phase proteins, and if it is decreased, they are called negative acute phase proteins.

Positive acute phase proteins form part of the innate immune system, where they perform various physiological functions. Some act by destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, for example, C-reactive protein, which acts as an opsonin, opsonising microbes, or ferritin and haptoglobin, which bind iron, limiting it for microorganisms.

Pig-MAP (Major Acute Phase Protein), which is stimulated by the cytokine Interleukin-6, appears to inhibit certain proteases.

Pig-MAP (Major Acute Phase Protein), which is stimulated by the cytokine Interleukin-6, appears to inhibit certain proteases. Coagulation factors modulate the coagulation process, mainly by stimulating it to trap pathogenic organisms in clots.

Negative acute phase proteins decrease in concentration during inflammation. Some examples are albumin, transferrin, transthyretin, retinol-binding protein, antithrombin, and transcortin. The physiological function of this decrease in the synthesis of these proteins is generally to safeguard amino acids for the production of positive acute phase proteins or to decrease the serum concentration of substances essential for microbial metabolism.

Like cytokines, measuring acute phase proteins is a very useful and effective method for assessing an inflammatory process. Therefore, we are pleased to feature on the cover of this article an analysis by the Autonomous University of Barcelona comparing Pig-MAP levels in piglets that consumed our enteroprotector NBG EnteroShield versus a control group.

Finally, you can find additional information on some of the most useful acute phase proteins as indicators of inflammation in pigs (Pig-MAP, Haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein) at the following link:

Disfruten del artículo.