C-Reactive Protein Binds to Cholesterol Crystals and Co-Localizes with the Terminal Complement Complex in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques.

ABSTRACT: Inflammation is a part of the initial process leading to atherosclerosis and cholesterol crystals (CC), found in atherosclerotic plaques, which are known to induce complement activation. The pentraxins C-reactive protein (CRP), long pentraxin 3 (PTX3), and serum amyloid P component (SAP) are serum proteins associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and these proteins have been shown to interact with the complement system. Whether the pentraxins binds to CC and mediate downstream complement-dependent inflammatory processes remains unknown. Binding of CRP, PTX3, and SAP to CC was investigated in vitro by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. CRP, PTX3, and SAP bound to CC in a concentration-dependent manner. CRP and PTX3 interacted with the complement pattern recogn

SUBMITTER: Pilely K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581807 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature