In vivo turnover studies of C-reactive protein and lipoproteins in the rabbit

Clearance from the plasma of 125I-labelled rabbit C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly slower in animals undergoing an acute phase response (T1/2, mean +/- s.d., 6.48 +/- 1.4 h, n = 4) than in normal rabbits (3.17 +/- 0.4 h, n = 4), P less than 0.01. In contrast there was no difference between the rates of clearance of CRP in rabbits on a normal diet and hypercholesterolaemic rabbits, the plasma of which contained high levels of beta-VLDL with which CRP is known to form circulating complexes. Furthermore the apparent rates of clearance of 125I-labelled beta-VLDL, VLDL and LDL did not differ between normal rabbits and rabbits undergoing an acute phase response. The significance of these findings is discussed.