An acute phase protein has been defined as a protein whose plasma concentration increases (positive acute phase protein) or decreases (negative acute phase protein) by at least 25 percent during an inflammatory condition (Gabay & Kushner, 1999). The complement system is a biochemical cascade and major effecter mechanism of humoral or innate immunity. However, the complement system also has the ...

Myocardial injury after ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R) is related to leukocyte activation with subsequent release of cytokines and oxygen-derived free radicals as well as complement activation. In our study, the cardioprotective effects of exogenous C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH) were examined in a rat model of myocardial I + R (i.e., 20 min + 24 hr or 48 hr). The C1 INH (10, 50 and 100 U/kg)...

BACKGROUND Exhaustive exercise can be associated with short-term immune suppression, but moderate exercise such as tai chi chuan (TCC) has been shown to have beneficial effects on immunity. The mechanisms for the health benefits of exercise remain to be determined, and no potential biomarkers for these beneficial health effects have been identified. This study investigated serum proteomic marke...

BACKGROUND Classically, intrinsic coagulation proteins are thought to have a minor role in hemostasis. Recently, these proteins, especially FXII, were implicated as possible key players in the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis. This study aims to determine the risks of arterial thrombosis conferred by increased activation of intrinsic coagulation proteins in young women and the effect of oral...

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a clinical disorder characterized by a deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). HAE has traditionally been divided into two subtypes. Unique among the inherited deficiencies of the complement system, HAE Types I and II are inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder. The generation of an HAE attack is caused by the depletion and/or consumption of C1-inhibitor...

BackgroundAngioedema (AE) is a clinical syndrome marked by localized swelling of the subcutaneous layer skin or submucosal respiratory gastrointestinal tracts. While AE commonly mediated histamine (allergic AE), some types result from excessive bradykinin activity, including hereditary (HAE), acquired AE, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor–induced AE. These are less common but importan...

Vol. 34 No. 6 • June 2009 • P&T® 293 INTRODUCTION Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency or dysfunction of the C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), a molecule that inhibits kallikrein and other serine proteinases. HAE is characterized by un predictable and recurrent attacks of inflammation affecting the hands, feet, face, abdomen, urogenital tract, and l...

Adipose tissue inflammation has recently been linked to the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance. C1 complex comprising three distinct proteins, C1q, C1r, and C1s, involves the key initial activation of the classic pathway of complement and plays an important role in the initiation of inflammatory process. In this study, we investigated adipose expression and regulation of C1 compleme...