Oxidation of C-reactive protein by hypochlorous acid leads to the formation of potent platelet activator

Abstract We examined the structural and functional consequences of oxidative modification of C-reactive protein (CRP) by hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which can be generated in vivo via the myeloperoxidase/H 2 O 2 /Cl − system. HOCl exposure resulted in the oxidation and chlorination of CRP amino acid residues, leading to protein unfolding, greater surface hydrophobicity and the formation of aggregates. After treatment of isolated platelets with 50 μg/ml HOCl-CRP, the modified CRP significantly stimulated platelet activation (over 10-fold increase in the fraction of CD62-positive platelets compared to controls, P P