"ACUTE PHASE" PROTEINS C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A protein, C3a, fibrinogen

After pathogens invade the body or in a case of tissue injury some special proteins, "acute phase" proteins, rapidly flood the bloodstream. Increased proteins produced in the liver are called positive. At the same time, the production of the number of other proteins is decreased, and they are termed negative. On the other hand, some "acute phase" proteins enhance inflammation very much (pro-inflammatory "acute phase" proteins such as C-reactive protein and C3a) and may even contribute to the promotion of sepsis, and other proteins are always anti-inflammatory, e.g., serum amyloid A protein and fibrinogen). ©V.V.Klimov