Molecular Regulation of the Acute Phase Complement Proteins

The complement genes and many other acute phase protein genes are expressed in liver and in extrahepatic tissues (Alper et al. 1980; Kushner and Feldmann 1978; Kushner 1982). The hepatocyte is a major source of the plasma proteins encoded by these genes. The original definition of an acute phase reponse included changes in plasma protein concentration but recent data suggest that changes in expression of these genes occur at the local site of tissue injury or inflammation as well as in liver (reviewed in Colten and Dowton 1986). These observations raise important questions about the mechanisms accounting for tissue specific control of acute phase protein synthesis following tissue injury or inflammation.