Your body produces an astonishing array of proteins, which perform a wide variety of tasks. Structural proteins, carrier proteins, storage proteins, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, hemoglobin and myoglobin are a few examples of the innumerable proteins found in your cells, tissues and bloodstream. Normally, the levels of many of these important molecules remain relatively constant, but your body can alter their synthesis to meet specific needs, and some protein levels change in response to illness or injury.
Acute Phase Proteins
During times of acute illness or injury, some proteins are synthesized in greater amounts or released into your bloodstream in larger numbers. These proteins, called "positive acute phase proteins," may help to resolve inflammation, enhance your resistance to infection, or limit tissue damage. A 2008 review in "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications" defined a positive acute phase protein as one whose level increases at least 25 percent in response to a stimulus. C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin and fibrinogen-like protein are examples of positive acute phase proteins.
Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins, or antibodies, are produced by a class of white blood cells called plasma cells, or B lymphocytes. Immunoglobulins are highly specialized proteins which recognize agents that are foreign to your body, and their synthesis is accelerated in response to a specific stimulus. For example, when you are exposed to chicken pox, your levels of IgM and IgG rise to deal with the initial infection and to confer long-lasting immunity. Immunoglobulin levels can also increase as the result of plasma cell disorders or other conditions that lead to inappropriate antibody production. Multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia and cryoglobulinemia are examples of inappropriate antibody production.
Liver Injury, Dehydration, Autoimmunity and High Protein Diets
A variety of specific illnesses and conditions can elevate the proteins in your bloodstream. Liver injury due to alcohol, infectious hepatitis or diseases of the bile ducts can lead to elevated immunoglobulin levels. Dehydration can temporarily increase the level of albumin, which is the most prevalent protein in your bloodstream. A 2006 case report in the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology" demonstrated that excessive consumption of protein supplements can also increase your albumin levels. High serum proteins are common in autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid disease or lupus, possibly as a result of chronically elevated acute phase proteins or other immune molecules.
Considerations
A variety of situations can trigger abnormally high levels of proteins in your bloodstream. Some of these are normal responses to illness or injury, while others may be due to serious underlying diseases, such as plasma cell malignancies. In many cases, protein levels rise transiently due to an unidentified stimulus and then fall back to normal. In order to diagnose the cause of high protein levels, your doctor needs to determine specifically which protein is elevated. If you have been told that your protein levels are high, ask your doctor for a more detailed analysis.
References
- "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications"; Fibrinogen-Like-Protein 1, a Hepatocyte-Derived Protein Is an Acute Phase Reactant; Z. Liu, C. Ukomadu; January 2008
- "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 18th Edition: Plasma Cell Disorders"; Mark H. Beers, M.D., Editor-in-Chief; 2006
- "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology"; Hyperalbuminemia and Elevated Transaminases Associated with High-Protein Diet; E.A. Mutlu, et al.; 2006
