C反应蛋白与动脉粥样硬化

人类C反应蛋白 (C reactiveprotein ,CRP)是在感染和组织损伤时血浆浓度快速、急剧升高的主要的急性期蛋白。CRP可以激活补体和加强吞噬细胞的吞噬而起调理作用 ,从而清除入侵机体的病原微生物和损伤、坏死、凋亡的组织细胞 ,在机体的天然免疫过程中发挥重要的保护作用。关于CRP的研究已经有 70多年的历史 ,传统观点认为CRP是一种非特异的炎症标志物 ,但近十年的研究揭示了CRP直接参与了炎症与动脉粥样硬化等心血管疾病 ,并且是心血管疾病最强有力的预示因子与危险因子

C-reactive protein and atherosclerosis

Human C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein which arises rapidly and tremendously in serum when the subject is exposed to infection and tissue injury. CRP can effectively opsonize by both activating the complement classical pathway and potentiating the phagocytosis of phagocytes, thus clearing the invading pathogens and tissue cells undergoing injury, necrosis and apoptosis and performing an important protective role in the innate immune system. It has been over 70 years since CRP was first discovered. Traditional wisdom holds that CRP is a non-specific marker of inflammation. However, accumulating evidence during the last decade has elucidated that CRP, plays a direct role in the inflammation and cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis and can be recognized as the most powerful risk factor and predicator of cardiovascular disease, hence at present receiving attention worldwidely.