Spécificité
This antibody recognises human C-reactive protein (CRP), a calcium-binding acute phase reactant belonging to the pentraxin family which is secreted into the plasma by the liver, in response to cytokine stimulation.In addition to binding to phosphocholine residues, CRP can bind to other autologous and extrinsic ligands on targets, including damaged cell membranes, ribonucleoprotein particles, apoptotic cells and constituents of micro-organisms, and may activate the classical complement pathway through C1q recognition, making CRP a factor in a variety of host defense mechanisms. Levels of plasma CRP are significantly increased during the acute phase response, tissue injury and infection and can be used diagnostically as a marker of inflammation, disease progress and risk assessment of cardiovascular disease.