Role of C-reactive protein in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by both non-inflammatory and inflammatory process, and accumulating evidence has demonstrated that inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of AKI. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute reactant produced by liver and many inflammatory cells, acts not only as an inflammation biomarker, but also as a pathogenic factor for AKI. Indeed, increased concentration of CRP is associated with poor outcome of varied etiologically related AKI patients. In recent years, the role of CRP is gradually recognized as an active participant in the pathogenesis and progression of AKI by exacerbating local inflammation, impairing the proliferation of damaged tubular epithelial cells and promoting fibrosis of injured renal tissue.