CRP: Historical Perspective, Structure, Evolution, Synthesis, Clinical and Biological Functions

Abstract

The C-reactive protein (CRP) is a plasma protein belonging to pentraxin family and has hepatic origin. It is the chief component of any inflammatory reaction. A key mediator of the innate immune system, an inflammatory biomarker whose concentration rapidly increases to nearly or more than 1000-folds above the normal values during tissue injury or infection. CRP functions through interaction of components of both humoral and cellular effector mechanisms of inflammation. Although considered as an acute-phase protein in tissue injury, infection and inflammation has now attained a distinct status of inflammatory disease marker not only in cardiovascular diseases but has well-known clinical and pathological relevance. The present study encompassing a number of diseases and associated conditions has highly illuminated the research field with the therapeutic role of CRP in health and disease. The future prospect of this chapter lies in the monitoring and understanding the applicability of CRP in the biology of various diseases.