ABSTRACT
The acute phase response encompasses a broad spectrum of pathophysiological changes that occur in an animal following numerous stimuli such as infection, tissue injury, or trauma. The overall importance of the positive acute phase reactants (APRs) as a part of the animal's defense mechanism in the early stages of inflammation is reflected in the broad spectrum of their collective activities and the highly evolutionarily conserved nature of members of this group of proteins. The information that has accumulated over the past decade on the mediators regulating the hepatic expression of APR proteins in laboratory animals and the extensive studies with laboratory animals on the role of these proteins in ameliorating the extent of tissue damage subsequent to inflammation and trauma have made a significant contribution to expanding the appreciation of the biological role(s) of the individual proteins in mammalian health and disease. This chapter focuses on APR proteins and discusses the transport proteins, haptoglobin, transferrin, albumin, and complement C3 component.
