Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2003 Feb;14(1):25-34
alpha(1)-Acid glycoprotein: an acute phase protein with
inflammatory
and immunomodulating
properties.
Hochepied T, Berger FG, Baumann H, Libert C.
Department for Molecular Biomedical Research, Flanders
Interuniversity
Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent University, KL
Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
alpha(1)-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a protein with a molecular weight of 41-43kDa and is heavily glycosylated (45%). Due to the presence of sialic acids, it is negatively charged (pI=2.7-3.2). AGP is an acute phase protein in all mammals investigated to date. The serum concentration of AGP rises several fold during an acute phase response, the systemic answer to a local inflammatory stimulus. Also, its glycosylation pattern can change depending on the type of inflammation. The biological function of this protein is not clear. A number of activities on different type of blood cells have been described. In vivo, AGP clearly has protective effects in several models of inflammation. Here we review the data supporting an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating role of AGP.