What is the theory behind negative acute-phase reactants?

• A. The body saves amino acids to make acute-phase reactants
• B. They are degraded during illness
• C. They increase in chronic inflammation
• D. They are produced exclusively by the kidney

Answer: (A)

During an acute-phase response, the liver reprograms its protein synthesis to favor positive acute-phase proteins (like CRP, fibrinogen) and downregulates the production of negative acute-phase proteins (such as albumin and transferrin). This shift is driven by cytokines that signal the liver to repurpose amino acids toward making the acute-phase proteins that help combat inflammation. The idea that the body “saves amino acids to make acute-phase reactants” captures this reallocating of resources: amino acids are redirected away from maintaining normal levels of negative acute-phase proteins and toward building the acute-phase proteins needed during illness. The other statements don’t fit this mechanism: negative acute-phase proteins aren’t primarily degraded as the main driver; they don’t generally rise in acute inflammation; and these proteins aren’t produced exclusively by the kidney—the liver is the main source.