Acute Phase Response & Chronic Inflammatory States
Acute Phase Response:
- Because AAT is an acute‑phase protein, its levels may rise in response to systemic inflammation, infection, or autoimmune flares.
Chronic Inflammatory States:
- Conditions with ongoing inflammation (including some autoimmune disorders) can mildly elevate AAT.
Genetic Deficiency & Liver Synthetic Impairment
Genetic Deficiency:
- AAT deficiency is a hereditary condition that predisposes individuals to early-onset emphysema and liver disease (cirrhosis or even neonatal hepatitis).
Liver Synthetic Impairment:
- Advanced liver dysfunction may impair the production of AAT.
Acute-Phase Protein Markers
- Beta Globulin:
A fraction of serum proteins including complement components and transferrin, some of which act as acute-phase reactants during inflammation.
- Alpha1 Antitrypsin:
An acute-phase protease inhibitor that increases in inflammatory states to protect tissues from excessive enzyme activity.
- Haptoglobin:
An acute-phase glycoprotein that binds free hemoglobin released from red blood cells, preventing oxidative injury during inflammation.
Together, these proteins are key markers of the body's inflammatory response and are useful in the assessment of systemic stress or tissue injury.
Protein and Nutritional Status Markers
- Serum albumin & serum protein:
These are primary indicators of visceral protein stores and overall liver synthetic capacity; lowered levels often suggest malnutrition or liver dysfunction.
- Transferrin & total iron binding capacity (TIBC):
These markers reflect the liver’s protein synthesis capacity and play a role in iron transport. Reduced values can be associated with nutritional deficiencies or inflammation.
- Nitrogen of amino acids in serum:
This measurement provides insight into protein turnover and the availability of amino acids, serving as an indicator of protein metabolic status.
- Blood urea & urine urea:
These reflect the end-product of protein metabolism. Their levels indicate dietary protein intake and the degree of catabolic activity.
- Essential vitamins (e.g., A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D3, E):
These critical micronutrients support various metabolic processes, including protein synthesis, and are important for overall nutritional health.
- Additional protein fractions (alpha-1 globulin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin):
While these are primarily considered acute-phase reactants, persistent changes in these fractions can also signal alterations in nutritional status and liver function.
Together, these markers provide a comprehensive picture of the body’s protein and nutritional status, integrating assessments of macronutrients, micronutrients, and liver function to reflect overall metabolic health.
