Is the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test a Worthy Indicator of Inflammation?

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) functions as an acute inflammatory protein, serving as an indicator of systemic inflammation. CRP originates from sites of inflammation or infection and can experience an increase of up to 1,000-fold in such regions. CRP exists in two forms: native CRP (nCRP), which is a homopentameric protein, and monomeric CRP (mCRP). mCRP is the result of the irreversible dissolution of nCRP into five separate monomers at sites of inflammation and infection. Although the liver's hepatocytes are the primary producers of the CRP protein, it is also produced by a range of cells including smooth muscle cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, and adipocytes. This article discusses the role of CRP in measuring inflammation for diagnostic purposes is unparalleled, solidifying its status as the 'gold standard' of inflammation markers.