Definition: Proteins that are secreted into the blood in increased or decreased quantities by hepatocytes in response to trauma, inflammation, or disease. These proteins can serve as inhibitors or mediators of the inflammatory processes. Certain acute-phase proteins have been used to diagnose and follow the course of diseases or as tumor markers.
alpha 1-inhibitor 3 [ alpha 1-I3,alpha 1-inhibitor III,alpha 1-inhibitor-III,alpha(1)I(3),alpha1-inhibitor-3,serum alpha1-inhibitor III ] an acute phase protein with homology to alpha 2-macroglobulin