title: Seasonal rhythms of "acute phase proteins" in humans.
abstract: "Acute phase proteins" comprise a group of proteins whose concentrations increase or decrease by at least 25% after a damaging stimulus (burn, trauma, tissue damage, etc.) or during inflammation. We investigated the seasonal variation in the concentrations of several acute phase proteins--alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), transferrin (Tf), alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M), ceruloplasmin (Cp), antitrypsin (AT), and haptoglobin (Hp). Blood samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers, who were subjected to the seasonal changes in illumination, were drawn at 08:00 h every 3 months (August, November, January/February, March/April, June/July). With the exception of Hp, all acute phase proteins showed an annual rhythm (ANOVA; p < 0.01). Lowest concentrations occurred in the winter months (November through February), with the exception of Tf, which was oppositely phased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. dkanikowska@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kanikowska
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzymislawski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiktorowicz
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017440:Photoperiod; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins