CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ACUTE-PHASE SERUM-PROTEIN RESPONSE IN PIGS

Acute inflammation was induced in pigs using a single subcutaneous tur pentine injection. The acute phase serum protein response was analyzed using crossed immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. The concentr ation of C reactive protein and haptoglobin increases 5-7 times 48h af ter the injection, whereas the concentration of an alpha(2)-globulin, named pig major acute phase protein (pig-MAP), increases at least 15-f old. A molecular mass of 115 kDa for pig-MAP was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protein did n ot crossreact with antisera to human hemopexin, ceruloplasmin, H-kinin ogen and complement factor C3. Albumin and alpha-lipoprotein were nega tive acute phase proteins because their concentration significantly de creased during inflammation. Finally, the concentration of alpha(1)-ac id glycoprotein, fetuin, alpha(1)-protease inhibitor, transferrin and alpha(2)-macroglobulins, as well as total proteins, did not change sig nificantly during inflammation.