Clinical Significance of Serum Amyloid A and the Effects of Corticosteroids on Its Production by HEPG2 Cells.

摘要

The results of my research efforts are described within a series of four manuscripts which have been published or are in press. Accordingly, this dissertation is organized around these manuscripts in the following manner: First, a general introduction describing the acute phase response and the production of the acute phase proteins, especially serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Some immunomodulatory activities associated with these acute phase proteins are also described. Following this general introduction are three introductory sections which briefly discuss the rationale and pertinent background information for each manuscript. The Specific Aims and Results and Discussion are followed by a brief Summary, the Conclusions and a short section of the dissertation. The four manuscripts are then appended. The first section is not intended to be inclusive, and should be read in context with the four appended manuscripts.