Seasonal Rhythms of “Acute Phase Proteins” in Humans

Abstract

“Acute phase proteins” comprise a group of proteins whose concentrations increase or decrease by at least 25% after a damaging stimulus (burn, trauma, tissue damage, etc.) or during inflammation. We investigated the seasonal variation in the concentrations of several acute phase proteins—α1‐antichymotrypsin (ACT), α1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP), transferrin (Tf), α2‐macroglobulin (α2‐M), ceruloplasmin (Cp), antitrypsin (AT), and haptoglobin (Hp). Blood samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers, who were subjected to the seasonal changes in illumination, were drawn at 08:00 h every 3 months (August, November, January/February, March/April, June/July). With the exception of Hp, all acute phase proteins showed an annual rhythm (ANOVA; p<0.01). Lowest concentrations occurred in the winter months (November through February), with the exception of Tf, which was oppositely phased.

• Acute Phase Proteins
• Seasonal Variation
• Human Beings