[Influence on the immune response of C-reactive protein (CRP)]

The influence of C-reactive protein (CRP) on early and late parameters of mitogen-induced lymphocyte activation in vitro has been tested. Early activation markers (increase of cell size and formation of thermostable SE rosettes) and the lymphocyte proliferation (3H-thymidine incorporation) were changed by CRP (10-50 micrograms/ml), whereas PWM-induced stimulation was inhibited and PHA-induced activation was enhanced. Production of human immunoglobulins in vitro in culture from 12 healthy donors was influenced by CRP in a different manner. Modulation of mitogenic responses of lymphocytes by CRP occurs in an early stage of the cell cycle. Responsible for this phenomenon can be soluble factors, which were removed from the culture by washing the cells after 24 hrs. We discuss here the unspecific modulatory role of CRP in various immune-mediated diseases.