“…The liver is the source of many important proteins and metabolites that are used throughout the body by several organs. Consequently, when the body undergoes severe injury or trauma, the liver is one of the organs to be significantly impacted (Fey and Gauldie, 1990;Fouad et al, 1996). The liver responds to these stresses by altering its normal phenotype (Baumann and Gauldie, 1994;Nishiura et al, 2000;Xia et al, 1992), such as dramatic alterations in the levels of several liver-synthesized plasma proteins (e.g., increase in the expression of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, a 2 -macroglobulin and decrease in the expression of serum albumin) (Gabay and Kushner, 1999;Geiger et al, 1988;Kushner, 1990).…”