C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood protein made mainly by the liver whose concentration rises in response to inflammation. It binds certain microbial and damaged-cell surfaces and can activate parts of the immune system.

Interleukin 6: Interleukin 6 is a cytokine that coordinates immune responses and stimulates the liver’s acute-phase protein production. It is a major signal prompting liver cells to increase CRP production during inflammation.
C-reactive protein test: A C-reactive protein test measures the concentration of CRP in a blood sample. It is the direct laboratory measurement used to track CRP concentrations.
Inflammation: Inflammation is a coordinated tissue response to harmful stimuli, involving immune cells, signaling molecules, and changes in blood flow. CRP concentration reflects inflammatory signaling rather than a single underlying disease.
Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease in which lipid-rich plaques develop within arterial walls. CRP is associated with cardiovascular events, while its causal role in plaque disease remains debated.
Acute-phase protein: An acute-phase protein is a blood protein whose concentration changes substantially during systemic inflammation. CRP is a prominent positive example of this inflammation-responsive protein group.
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein testing measures small differences in CRP concentration, especially within the low range. It applies more precise measurement to estimates of cardiovascular risk.
Innate immune system: The innate immune system is the body’s rapid, broadly targeted defense against infection and tissue damage. CRP belongs to this early defense system and recognizes shared molecular patterns.
Mendelian randomization: Mendelian randomization uses inherited genetic variants as instruments to test whether an exposure causally affects an outcome. Studies using this method have challenged the claim that CRP itself causes cardiovascular disease.
Phosphocholine: Phosphocholine is a small chemical group found in cell membranes and some microbial molecules. CRP binds phosphocholine exposed on damaged cells and certain microbes.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a blood test that measures how quickly red cells settle in a tube. It is another nonspecific inflammation marker, with different kinetics and testing limitations.

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