Characterization of the acute phase serum protein response in pigs.

Acute inflammation was induced in pigs using a single subcutaneous turpentine injection. The acute phase serum protein response was analyzed using crossed immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. The concentration of C reactive protein and haptoglobin increases 5-7 times 48 h after the injection, whereas the concentration of an alpha 2-globulin, named pig major acute phase protein (pig-MAP), increases at least 15-fold. A molecular mass of 115 kDa for pig-MAP was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protein did not crossreact with antisera to human hemopexin, ceruloplasmin, H-kininogen and complement factor C3. Albumin and alpha-lipoprotein were negative acute phase proteins because their concentration significantly decreased during inflammation. Finally, the concentration of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, alpha 1-protease inhibitor, transferrin and alpha 2-macroglobulins, as well as total proteins, did not change significantly during inflammation.