The acute phase response is a quickly mobilized non-specific defensive response elicited in the response of the host to infection, tissue injury or inflammation.
Acute phase proteins
Acute phase proteins have been defined as the proteins whose plasma concentration increases (positive acute phase proteins) or decreases (negative acute phase proteins) during the acute phase responses.
Acute phase proteins: Composition and Resource
APs are synthesized mainly by hepatic cells, the monocytes, and fibroblasts.
Acute phase proteins: Main Functions
1. To help the immune system adapt to various environmental stresses. removal of exogenous substance and necrotic tissue to promote the healing .for example：c-reactive protein c-reactive protein ＋ combine with bacterial wall activate complement classic pathway promote phagocytosis induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and tissue factor in monocytes.
2. Inhibit the activity of protease: The protease inhibitors can protect tissues from over injuries by protease
3. up-regulation of fibrinogen in the acute phase response is beneficial to increasing the hemostatic power and the wound healing
4. ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and hemopexin can bind copper and heme, and avoid the injuries of tissues by over many copper and iron. Ceruloplasmin exhibits an antioxidant function against oxidative stress injuries.
5. serum amyloid protein A associated HDL3 seems to facilitate the uptake and removal of cholesterol from monocytes/macrophages at the inflammatory site