Final answer:
The false statement regarding acute phase proteins is that they are cytokines produced by neutrophils. Acute phase proteins are produced mainly by the liver, not by neutrophils, and they serve in the immune response, including opsonization and complement activation, rather than being signaling molecules like cytokines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'They are cytokines produced by neutrophils' is false regarding acute phase proteins. Acute phase proteins are not cytokines, but rather they are a group of proteins primarily produced by the liver in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 and IL-6. These proteins have various functions in the immune response, including enhancing phagocytosis through opsonization, activating the complement system, and serving in the defense against pathogens.
Some acute phase proteins, such as mannose-binding lectin, are indeed part of the collectin family and play a significant role in the innate immune response. Mannose-binding lectin can initiate the lectin complement activation pathway when it binds to a pathogen. This is different from cytokines, which are signaling molecules produced by various cells, including neutrophils, that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis.