Alpha 2-macroglobulin and fibrinogen modulate inflammatory edema in man.
Animal experiments suggest that the response of acute-phase proteins (APPs) modulates the inflammatory reaction following tissue injury. To study this in man we investigated the relation between a number of APPs, including fibrinogen and alpha 2-macroglobulin, and the inflammatory edema induced by a primary immunization against cholera, typhoid, and yellow fever. Vaccination induces a significant APP response; however, only alpha 2-macroglobulin and fibrinogen were of importance to the amount of edema, measured 24 h after vaccination. High plasma levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin strongly inhibit the amount of edema, whereas a high level of fibrinogen proved to be a stimulating factor. This holds both for the basal prevaccination levels and the postvaccination levels. The normal variation of the plasma concentration of these proteins in healthy subjects seems to be a determining factor to the amount of edema in this kind of injury.
Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands.
J
J
van Gool
H
H
van Vugt
E
E
de Bont
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000502:physiology*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D005340:Fibrinogen