C-Reactive Protein: Is Early Prognostic Marker?

C-reactive protein (CRP) is synthesized by liver and is an acute phase protein (APP). It is upregulated under inflammatory stimulus of infection, injury, and tissue damage. 1970s mark the first identification of human CRP. Acute phase response (APR) includes host inclusive of both animal and human responses to infection, inflammation, injury, stress, and trauma which involves upregulated synthesis of different plasma proteins by the liver which are collectively called as acute phase proteins (APP). APPs are overexpressed, while other plasma proteins reveal downregulation from their basal levels. CRP is an acute inflammatory protein that reveals up to 1000-fold upregulation in expression at infection or inflammation sites. Dramatic increase of CRP levels occurs during inflammatory processes. It increases beyond normal levels of expression within 6 h of trigger and reaches its peak at 48 h post the trigger. It is reported to aid incomplete binding to externally intruding agents, pathogens, and damaged cells. Phagocytic activity of the cells and macrophages are enhanced. Macrophages express a CRP receptor. It is also reported to play a role in early innate immune defenses against infectious agents. A huge number of studies have documented the role of CRP in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated disease conditions by readily available commercial automated CRP assays. This chapter highlights the role of CRP in acute phase response, based on clinical observations of CRP in relation to CVD and other diseases in animal species, and possibility of employing CRP as therapeutic target, quantization of CRP in detection, and monitoring systemic inflammatory responses from the view point of scope of research and medical and veterinary practices.