An acute phase response does not elevate rat heart metallothionein levels, nor inhibit adriamycin toxicity

An acute phase response, a group of adaptations to some types of stress, blocks injury in rodents due to hepatotoxins and agents generating arthritis-like inflammation. In contrast, this study found no protection against adriamycin-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rats. The acute phase response was initiated by turpentine-stimulated leg inflammation. Injury was assessed by survival, macroscopic signs of injury, and heart lipid peroxidation. Acute phase response produced the expected rises in the stress-responsive proteins: serum ceruloplasmin and liver metallothionein. However, cardiac metallothionein was unaffected. These results suggest that an acute phase response will not necessarily protect tissues where levels of stress-induced proteins are not raised.