Economista

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12.7 The C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of atherosclerotic vascular disease
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Back to Chapter 12 
CRP is considered a prototypical member of the acute phase reactants in man. Belongs to the family of pentraxins, protein group highly preserved during evolution and that precede the developmentof immune responses. His blood levels are a direct result of its hepatic synthesis. Activation of the gene responsible for its synthesis is caused by interleukin-6 (IL-6). Interleukin-1 (IL-1),glucocorticoids, and the activation products com plement act synergistically potentiating the actions of IL-6. The main biological function of CRP is the recognition of pathogens and damaged cells of thehost (including nuclear antigens, lipoproteins and apoptotic cells) and participate in their elimination activating phagocytic cells and system com supplement.
In recent years, numerous studies linkelevated CRP levels with the possibility of developing cardiovascular disease in the future. The most important issue in this regard is whether PCR is only a very sensitive marker of systemicinflammation or if, by contrast, is a contributing factor to the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaque and instability. The simplest possibility is to consider only the PCR com or a marker ofinflammation, but recent studies indicate that it is an active element in the genesis of atherosclerotic plaque. It has been com proven its presence in the arterial intima PCR being the amount ofatherosclerotic lesion within directly related to the activity of the inflammatory process. In most of the foam cells in atherosclerotic plaque located subendothelial level is detected PCR, com plex andmembrane destructive com plement and com or other molecules that indicate inflammation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque. The com plex relationship between promoters, activators and mediators...