CRP and the disposal of dying cells: Consequences for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

C reactive protein (CRP) levels directly correlate with the disease activity of many inflammatory diseases, e.g. sepsis, infection, and various autoimmunopathies such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . In contrast, insufficient CRP levels are implicated in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) . This article reports on the level-depended effects of CRP in various diseases. In detail we show that increased and decreased levels of CRP, as demonstrated in patients with RA and SLE, respectively can contribute to disease progression.

• Apoptosis
• C reactive protein
• necrosis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• systemic lupus erythematosus

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) (project number A4 and N2) at the University Hospital of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.