Negative APR

 Q: Which of the following is the 'negative' acute phase reactant (APR)? 

A) Interleukin (IL)-6 

B) IL-1 beta 

C) Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha 

D) Interferon gamma 

E) Albumin

Answer: E

During any inflammation such as infection, trauma, tumor, infarction, or autoimmune disease - macrophages, monocytes, and other cells increases the APR production. This occurs mostly in the hepatocytes and subsequently decreases the production of albumin. 

The low level of albumin during such an inflammatory state is called "negative APR". The other negative APR is Transferrin.

#inflammation

References:

1. Loyer P, Ilyin G, Abdel Razzak Z, et al. Interleukin 4 inhibits the production of some acute-phase proteins by human hepatocytes in primary culture. FEBS Lett 1993; 336:215. 

2. Jain S, Gautam V, Naseem S. Acute-phase proteins: As diagnostic tool. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011;3(1):118-127. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.76489