RAT ALPHA-1-ACID GLYCOPROTEIN - UPTAKE BY INFLAMMATORY AND TUMOR TISSUES

Abstract

The tissue distribution of i.v. administered 125I-.alpha.1-acid glycoprotein and 125I-albumin was studied in rats with inflammatory granuloma or transplanted sarcoma. The marked concentration of .alpha.1-acid glycoprotein in extravascular spaces of the granuloma or sarcoma tissue was observed, most of which remained in a trichloroacetic-acid-precipitable form throughout the experiments. Albumin also preferentially accumulated in both pathological tissues and presented essentially the same distribution pattern as .alpha.1-acid glycoprotein in intact organs except kidney in both morbid states. Serum .alpha.1-acid glycoprotein might play an important role in inflammatory or cell proliferative processes in situ. The studies on trichloroacetic acid fractionation also indicate a selective involvement of the kidney in the catabolic processes of .alpha.1-acid glycoprotein as compared to that of albumin.