Inflammation, counter irritation and rat serum acute phase α2-macroglobulin levels

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Abstract
Following the injection of turpentine and carrageenan into rats, laboratory models for counter irritation were assessed by measuring changes in paw thicknesses and serum acute phase α2-macroglobulin concentrations. Both indices of inflammation were also examined in groups of rats dosed with 6-mercaptopurine, the best inhibitor found so far of elevated levels of α2-macroglobulin in rat serum. Results showed that there is no relationship between the degree of irritant-induced inhibition of inflammation and the serum concentration of the acute phase protein. Hence, at least in the models for counter irritation used in this study, α2-macroglobulin cannot be viewed as an endogenous anti-inflammatory protein.