The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is an academic center affiliated with the Division of Toxicological Sciences in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Research Grants 1987-1988

Induction of Acute Phase Proteins as a Sensitive Marker of Inflammation

Richard F. Mortensen, PhD
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Mortensen is developing an in vitro system for inducing synthesis of a protein found in blood - human acute phase C-reactive protein - because blood levels of CRP reflect the extent of tissue inflamation. The system would then be used to test potentially inflammatory products. The assay would be quantitative, not involve animals and could probably be simplified for use in clinical laboratories. Currently, only qualitative animal tests are used.