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BACKGROUND OF THE ALPHA-1-ACID GLYCOPROTEIN (a₁AG; AGP)

Diseases, intoxications and other abnormal conditions cause changes in the components of the blood such as cell count and distribution or concentration of serum proteins, enzymes or hormones. Among the changes that are particularly significant are those called acute phase reactants. The acute phase response is an early and nonspecific but highly complex reaction to a variety of injuries.

The diagnostic and prognostic significance of drastic changes in the plasma or serum concentration of some of these proteins represents a useful marker for clinicians and researchers. Positive acute phase proteins increase in concentration, occasionally several hundred-fold, and include alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (a₁AG; AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen (F'IB), and haptoglobin (Hp). On the other hand, negative acute phase proteins have decreased levels in the serum of injured animals. Examples of these negative acute phase proteins are albumin (ALB), pre albumin and a2-HS glycoprotein.

Acute phase proteins such as a₁AG are elevated during acute or chronic periods of inflammation or infectious disease, following surgery, with malignant tumors, in autoimmune diseases, liver cirrhoses, during cardiac infarction and with all types of stress in general. The acute phase proteins are heterogeneous with respect to physiological properties but share common functions. In particular, these proteins engage in restoring homeostatic balance disturbed by injury, tissue necrosis or infection.

Among these acute phase reactant proteins, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (a₁AG) has been found to increase remarkably during periods of non homeostasis as caused by situations and conditions as described above. a₁AG is particularly useful as a marker for detection of early stages of disease, to judge the extent of progression of a malady and to assess the effectiveness of treatments or changes related to attempts to improve management or environment.

The a₁AG test is species specific. a₁AG has already been purified from several species and test kits prepared. Some differences noted to date with respect to the physiochemical properties of animal a₁AG include molecular weights from 42,000 to 50,000; sugar content from 23.5% to 43.5%; and isoelectric points from 2.6 to 3.8.

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