Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)

2005   Vol. 6B   No. 10   p.941-947

Acute phase reactants, challenge in the near future of animal production and veterinary medicine

GRUYS E.^†1, TOUSSAINT M.J.M.¹, UPRAGARIN N.^1,2, VAN EDEREN A.M.¹, ADEWUYI A.A.¹, CANDIANI D.^1,3, NGUYEN T.K.A.^1,4, SABECKIENE J.^1,5

(¹Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands)
(²Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand)
(³Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, University of Torino, Italy)
(⁴Department of Embryo Transfer and Reproduction, the National Institute of Animal Husbandry, Hanoi, Vietnam)
(⁵Department of Infectious Diseases, Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania)
^†E-mail: e.gruys@vet.uu.nl
Received July 25, 2005; revision accepted Aug. 26, 2005

Abstract: The future of acute phase proteins (APPs) in science is discussed in this paper. Many functions and associated pathological processes of APPs are unknown. Extrahepatic formation in local tissues needs attention. Local serum amyloid A (SAA) formation may be involved in deposition of AA-amyloid induced by conformational change of SAA resulting in amyloid formation, having tremendous food safety implications. Amyloidogenesis is enhanced in mouse fed beta pleated sheet-rich proteins. The local amyloid in joints of chicken and mammary corpora amylacea is discussed. Differences in glycosylation of glycoproteins among the APPs, as has been shown for α1-acid glycoprotein, have to be considered. More knowledge on the reactivity patterns may lead to implication of APPs in the diagnostics and staging of a disease. Calculation of an index from values of several acute phase variables increases the power of APPs in monitoring unhealthy individuals in animal populations. Vaccinations, just as infections in eliciting acute phase response seem to limit the profitability of vaccines because acute phase reactions are contraproductive in view of muscle anabolism. Interest is focused on amino acid patterns and vitamins in view of dietary nutrition effect on sick and convalescing animals. When inexpensive methodology such as liquid phase methods (nephelometry, turbidimetry) or protein array technology for rapid APP measurement is available, APPs have a future in routine diagnostics. Specific groups of patients may be screened or populations monitored by using APP.

Key words: Acute phase protein, Amino acid, Joint, Mammary gland, Mastitis, Serum amyloid A (SAA), Vitamin A
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0941             CLC number: Q95