Acute inflammation is characterized by an increase in acute phase proteins of which types?

Acute inflammation involves a complex response to injury or infection, during which the body mobilizes various components of the immune system. One key characteristic of this response is the increase in acute phase proteins, which are primarily produced by the liver.

The acute phase response is often marked by an increase in specific protein fractions during inflammation. Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 globulins include notable acute phase proteins such as alpha-1 antitrypsin and haptoglobin. These proteins play critical roles in modulating the inflammatory response and protecting tissues from damage. For example, alpha-1 antitrypsin helps in inhibiting enzymes that could cause tissue damage, while haptoglobin binds free hemoglobin released from red blood cells during hemolysis, thus preventing kidney damage and restoring iron homeostasis.

The other options list different types of globulins that do not typically exhibit a significant increase during acute inflammation. Therefore, the increase in the Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 fractions distinctly highlights the acute phase response, underlining their role in the body's effort to respond to acute inflammatory stimuli effectively. Understanding this concept is crucial for evaluating inflammatory conditions in clinical chemistry.