A brief, highly selective history of acute phase proteins as indicators of infection, inflammation and injury

Abstract

There is an array of plasma protein alterations that occur in a wide variety of species, including humans in response to trauma, inflammation and infections, seemingly irrespective of etiologic agent. In numerous species, these plasma proteins are part of the innate immune response. In addition, it appears that a number of the plasma proteins in this array can be predictive of morbidity and/or mortality. We propose that based on historic use, selected acute phase proteins should be included in ongoing and future non-clinical and clinical studies to help us better understand disease progression in chronic, as well as acute diseases. In addition to assess if there is a relationship between vaccine-induced inflammation and degree of protection from live, attenuated or synthetic vaccines.