Acute phase reactants are best described as adaptive changes in plasma proteins during inflammatory response.

Acute phase reactants are best described as adaptive changes in plasma proteins during inflammatory response.

• A. Genetic mutations
• B. Immune complexes
• C. Plasma proteins during inflammatory response
• D. Oxygen transport proteins

Answer: (C)

Acute phase reactants are plasma proteins whose concentrations change as part of the systemic inflammatory response. The liver makes these proteins in response to cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-α, shifting production to support defense and tissue repair. Some rise (positive acute-phase proteins like C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, ferritin, and haptoglobin) to aid opsonization, complement activation, iron sequestration, and coagulation. Others fall (negative acute-phase proteins like albumin and transferrin) as resources are redirected toward the inflammatory response. This description—adaptive changes in plasma proteins during inflammation—best captures what acute phase reactants are. The other ideas—genetic mutations, immune complexes, or oxygen-transport proteins—do not describe this coordinated, inflammation-driven shift in liver-synthesized plasma proteins.

Acute phase reactants are plasma proteins whose concentrations change as part of the systemic inflammatory response. The liver makes these proteins in response to cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-α, shifting production to support defense and tissue repair. Some rise (positive acute-phase proteins like C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, ferritin, and haptoglobin) to aid opsonization, complement activation, iron sequestration, and coagulation. Others fall (negative acute-phase proteins like albumin and transferrin) as resources are redirected toward the inflammatory response. This description—adaptive changes in plasma proteins during inflammation—best captures what acute phase reactants are. The other ideas—genetic mutations, immune complexes, or oxygen-transport proteins—do not describe this coordinated, inflammation-driven shift in liver-synthesized plasma proteins.