A novel acute-phase marker: Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP)

Acute phase proteins are extremely helpful markers for indicating a disturb ance of the homeostasis within the organism and for monitoring the course o f a disease. Despite the availability of several serum acute phase markers, a better and more specific prediction of sepsis and related disorders, suc h as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is still needed, as the se diseases still have a high mortality rate and have to be detected early and with high specificity. Here a novel acute-phase protein is introduced, that has certain biological functions in host defense and that may be a use ful addition for the diagnosis and monitoring of sepsis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS or endotoxin), binding protein (LBP) is a class 1 acute-phase protein with the ability to bind and transfer bacterial LPS. Changes in serum leve ls of LBP have profound effects on the host's ability to react to endotoxin stimulation and to defend itself against sepsis. Results obtained from in vitro studies and from an animal model are reviewed here and a perspective on ongoing clinical studies is given. There is evidence that LBP, along wit h other LPS-recognizing molecules, is an important parameter for monitoring the acute phase and the ability of the host to react to LPS-challenge.