Effects of pesticides on the acute phase proteins in fishes: an experimental study

The acute phase response is a nonspecific reaction of fish to disturbances in homeostasis. The acute phase proteins (APPs) are mainly glycoproteins released by hepatocytes following specific stimulation by the cytokines. The function of APP is to modulate an immune response. We have recently isolated several different APPs from fishes including ceruloplasmine (Cp), fibrinogen (Fg), serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different pesticides on the APP responses in fishes and to investigate the utility of applying APP measurements for monitoring of aquatic environmental contamination. We analyzed the kinetics of different APP levels after intoxication. Cp and CRP exhibited a three- to five-fold elevation following intoxication suggesting that APP may be sensitive and highly effective biomarkers.