C-reactive protein

<p>C-reactive protein (CRP) is an annular (ring-shaped) <a href="/facts/Pentameric_protein/sY8JXrT7">pentameric protein</a> found in <a href="/facts/Blood_plasma/oHuwwugG">blood plasma</a>, whose <a href="/facts/Circulating_concentration/Fls5Gbtb">circulating concentrations</a> rise in response to <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a>. It is an <a href="/facts/Acute-phase_protein/QkeAFAk5">acute-phase protein</a> of <a href="/facts/Hepatic/Rtp4Fk2b">hepatic</a> origin that increases following <a href="/facts/Interleukin-6/FVQeAWkt">interleukin-6</a> secretion by <a href="/facts/Macrophage/z7hkQu3o">macrophages</a> and <a href="/facts/T_cell/5z6PQ9UN">T cells</a>. Its physiological role is to bind to <a href="/facts/Lysophosphatidylcholine/ahYhm3CQ">lysophosphatidylcholine</a> expressed on the surface of dead or dying cells (and some types of bacteria) in order to activate the <a href="/facts/Complement_system/vRSrQDUv">complement system</a> via <a href="/facts/C1q/6aDcmcQ3">C1q</a>.
</p><p>CRP is synthesized by the <a href="/facts/Liver/Rtp4Fk2b">liver</a> in response to factors released by <a href="/facts/Macrophage/z7hkQu3o">macrophages</a>, T cells and fat cells (<a href="/facts/Adipocytes/FuM7LlaK">adipocytes</a>). It is a member of the <a href="/facts/Pentraxin/5cghHJPS">pentraxin</a> family of proteins. It is not related to <a href="/facts/C-peptide/IXtvTMtU">C-peptide</a> (insulin) or <a href="/facts/Protein_C/sHW1LwrJ">protein C</a> (blood coagulation). C-reactive protein was the first <a href="/facts/Pattern_recognition_receptor/ItopNrK0">pattern recognition receptor</a> (PRR) to be identified.
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C-reactive protein open-in-new

C-reactive protein