Description
Product Characteristics: The C-reactive protein (CRP) is a cyclic pentameric pentraxin family acute phase protein compound of five identical noncovalently bound nonglycosylated subunits (each subunit 24 kDa, physiologic CRP molecule 117,5 kDa). CRP is produced by the liver and its plasma levels rise dramatically during inflammatory processes occuring in the body. CRP is an initiator of classical complement cascade, binds to several nuclear components (chromatin, histones, etc.) and is also believed to play an important role in innate immunity. Patients with elevated basal levels of CRP are at increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Target Information: The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the pentaxin family. It is involved in several host defense related functions based on its ability to recognize foreign pathogens and damaged cells of the host and to initiate their elimination by interacting with humoral and cellular effector systems in the blood. Consequently, the level of this protein in plasma increases greatly during acute phase response to tissue injury, infection, or other inflammatory stimuli. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009]