Table 1.

Upregulated acute-phase proteins used as inflammatory biomarkers.

Acute phase protein	Main role	Normal range	Time after inflammatory stimulus (in hours)	Maximum fold change in plasma concentration
CRP (C-reactive protein)	Binding to pathogens and damaged cells, opsonin, complement activation	< 0.5 mg/L	6-12 h	x 1000
PCT (procalcitonin)	Unknown	< 10 pg/mL	6- 8 h	x 400-1000
SAA (Serum amyloid A)	Opsonin, regulation of innate defense, induction of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes, chemoattractant, apolipoprotein with HDL, regulation of lipid metabolism	< 10 mg/L	6-12 h	x 1000
α1-glycoprotein (or orosomucoid)	Binding of plasma proteins and mediators, chaperone, regulation of innate defense	< 1.5 g/L	12 h	x 2-4
Haptoglobin	Scavenging of hemoglobin, antioxidants, angiogenesis, chaperone	0.5-2 g/L	12 h	x 2-4
Fibrinogen	Clot formation	2-4 g/L	12 h	x 2-4
AAT (α1-anti trypsin)	Enzyme inhibition	2-4 g/L	12 h	x 2-4
C3 complement	Pathogen recognition, destruction, chemotaxis, opsonin, vasoregulation	0.8 à 18 g/L	48 h	x 1.5
Ceruloplasmin	Iron and copper homeostasis	0.2-0.6 g/L	48 h	x 1.5