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Immunologic Research
Published in: Immunologic Research 1/2013

01-05-2013

C-reactive protein and the biology of disease

Authors: Waliza Ansar, Shyamasree Ghosh

Published in: Immunologic Research | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

The C-reactive protein (CRP) is a plasma protein of hepatic origin, belonging to pentraxin family and forms a major component of any inflammatory reaction. A key component of the innate immunity pathway, the concentration of CRP may rapidly increase to levels more than 1,000-folds above normal values as a consequence to tissue injury or infection. Although functioning as a classical mediator of innate immunity, it functions via interaction of components of both humoral and cellular effector systems of inflammation. Initially considered as an acute-phase marker in tissue injury, infection and inflammation, it now has a distinct status of a disease marker in cardiovascular diseases and is well known of its clinical and pathological significance. The present torrent of studies in a large number of diseases and associated conditions has highly elucidated the role of CRP as a therapeutic and research reagent. In this review, we focus our attention to role of CRP in health and disease. The future prospect of this review lies in the applicability of CRP as a molecule in understanding and monitoring of the biology of disease.
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Metadata
Title
C-reactive protein and the biology of disease
Authors
Waliza Ansar
Shyamasree Ghosh
Publication date
01-05-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Immunologic Research / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0257-277X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-013-8384-0

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