ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes two specific topics: fibronectin as an acute phase protein and fibronectin alterations in acute or chronic liver diseases. The fractional synthesis of fibronectin is the same in controls and turpentine-treated animals, suggesting that in the latter, increased fibronectin production is associated with the induction of several liver-produced proteins generically named acute phase reactants. Fibronectin plasma levels have been measured in controls as well as in patients with a large variety of liver diseases. Fibronectin has been shown to play an important role in phagocytosis. Plasma fibronectin levels were measured in 16 patients that underwent surgery for obstructive jaundice. It was observed that even in patients that developed fatal septicemia and general system failure, there was no significant decrease in circulating fibronectin. Although it is generally agreed that fibronectin levels are decreased in patients with acute fulminant hepatitis, results in other acute and chronic liver diseases are conflicting.
