Acute Phase Protiens - Week 4 PBL Flashcards
What are acute phase proteins?
Class of proteins that increase or decrease in response to inflammation
Where are acute phase proteins found?
Plasma in the blood
Which type of immune system are acute phase proteins associated with?
Innate immunity
Where are acute phase proteins produced?
Liver
When are acute phase proteins activated?
In response to inflammation
Neutrophils and macrophages secrete cytokines (IL1, IL6 and TNF) —> triggers APPs
Name the 5 signs of inflammation:
Pain/ heat/ redness/ swelling/ loss of function
Suggest three triggers of inflammation:
Trauma / cancer / infection
What is CRP and it’s role?
binds to Fc receptors of monocytes and neutrophils -> stimulates cytokine production
Works as an opsonin
Activates complement (CRP binds to receptors on damaged cells)
What is C3 and it’s role?
directly influences inflammation via complement cascade
Dilating arteries/ stimulating mast cells for histamine release/ chemotaxis of phagocytes/ opsoninsation of microbes
What is serum Amyloid A and it’s role?
Synthesis of cytokines
Chemotaxis for neutrophils and mast cells
What is haptoglobin and it’s role?
binds to haemoglobin - prevents iron loss
Antioxidant
What is ferritin and it’s role?
Sequesters free iron
What are CRP and ESR for clinical relevance?
Measure inflammation
ESR - non specific for chronic inflammation
Describe the correlation relationship between ESR and CRP in an individual with inflammation.
Not well correlated and depends on the disease
Eg ( OA - low CRP and increased ESR)
RA - low CRP and increased ESR
