C-reactive protein: the nexus between inflammation and protein misfolding diseases

C-reactive protein: the nexus between inflammation and protein misfolding diseases

C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase protein primarily produced by hepatocytes in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines, is a widely used clinical marker for inflammation and tissue damage. In its native state, CRP exists in a stable pentameric form called pCRP. Upon interaction with activated...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abhishek Roy, Johannes Zeller, Tracy L. Nero, Johanna Klepetko, Steffen U. Eisenhardt, Michael W. Parker, James D. McFadyen, Karlheinz Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
C-reactive protein
misfolded proteins
protein aggregation
neurodegenerative diseases
neuroinflammation
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1612703/full
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Summary:C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase protein primarily produced by hepatocytes in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines, is a widely used clinical marker for inflammation and tissue damage. In its native state, CRP exists in a stable pentameric form called pCRP. Upon interaction with activated cell membranes, pCRP undergoes a transitional conformation change into activated pCRP (pCRP*) and subsequently fully dissociates into its monomeric subunits (mCRP). pCRP* and mCRP interact with C1q and thereby activate the classical complement system pathway and both exert pro-inflammatory effects on platelets and endothelial cells. Although classically recognized as a marker of acute inflammation, CRP is increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of protein-misfolding pathologies, notably neurodegenerative diseases and amyloidosis. This review explores the complex interplay between CRP, encompassing its isoforms pCRP, pCRP*, and mCRP, and misfolded proteins, examining the specific contributions to inflammation and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. We analyze the clinical significance of variations in CRP levels in patients with protein-misfolding diseases, discuss underlying mechanisms, and highlight potential implications of these findings for drug discovery and therapeutic targeting of CRP.
ISSN:1664-3224

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