Fluorescein C-reactive protein antibody conjugate (CRP135)

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that is a member of a conserved family of pentameric proteins called pentraxins. The CRP molecule is comprised of five monomeric subunits that noncovalently bind to form the native pentameric protein, which is mainly found in plasma. CRP is predominantly synthesized in hepatocytes in response to tissue injury or infection, although CRP expression has been reported in other tissues. The exact function of CRP has not been fully determined but it has been shown to participate in inflammatory and innate immune processes and is a potent activator of the classical complement pathway. Studies show that levels of CRP increase rapidly following tissue injury. Consequently the protein is widely used in the clinical setting as a non-specific indicator of inflammation and infectious disease. In addition, mildly elevated levels of CRP have been described after myocardial infarction and epidemiologic studies suggest that CRP is a strong independent predictor of future cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and sudden cardiac death without known cardiovascular disease.