CRP (C-Reactive Protein) Gene
Key acute-phase reactant and cardiovascular risk marker
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | CRP |
|---|---|
| Full Name | C-reactive protein |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 1q23.2 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 1401 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1401 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000132693 |
| UniProt ID | P02741 |
| OMIM ID | 123260 |
| HGNC ID | 2367 |
| Aliases | PTX1 |
Description
The CRP gene encodes C-reactive protein, a member of the pentraxin family. It is a highly conserved acute-phase reactant synthesized primarily by hepatocytes in response to interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. CRP binds to phosphocholine on microbial pathogens and damaged cells, activating the classical complement pathway and promoting phagocytosis. It serves as a widely used clinical biomarker for inflammation, infection, and cardiovascular disease risk.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular disease | Elevated CRP levels promote endothelial dysfunction and plaque instability via complement activation and monocyte recruitment | Multiple prospective cohort studies (Ridker et al., 2002) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Chronic inflammation drives CRP production; CRP levels correlate with disease activity | OMIM #123260; clinical guidelines |
| Infectious diseases | CRP rises rapidly in bacterial infections; used to differentiate bacterial from viral etiology | Systematic reviews (e.g., Simon et al., 2004) |
| Systemic lupus erythematosus | CRP levels may be elevated during flares, though often less than in bacterial infections | Observational studies |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Liver | High (nTPM ~ 1000) | High |
| Adipose tissue | Low (nTPM ~ 5) | Low |
| Lung | Very low (nTPM < 1) | Not detected |
| Kidney | Very low (nTPM < 1) | Not detected |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) | High nTPM | Major source of CRP in vitro |
| THP-1 (monocyte) | Low nTPM | Inducible by IL-6 |
| A549 (lung carcinoma) | Not detected | No baseline expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs3091244 (C>T) | SNP (promoter) | ~30% (global) | Alters CRP basal levels; associated with cardiovascular risk |
| rs1205 (C>T) | SNP (3' UTR) | ~35% (global) | Lower CRP levels; reduced cardiovascular risk |
| rs2794521 (C>T) | SNP (promoter) | ~25% (global) | Modulates IL-6 response |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
No well-characterized loss-of-function mutations; complete CRP deficiency is extremely rare and not clearly pathogenic.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Promoter SNPs (e.g., rs3091244) increase CRP expression, associated with heightened inflammatory response and cardiovascular risk.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not reported for CRP.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
Pathways
• Complement and coagulation cascades (KEGG hsa04610)
• IL-6 signaling pathway (Reactome R-HSA-6783783)
• Innate immune system (Reactome R-HSA-168249)
Protein Summary
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a 224-amino-acid pentameric protein with a molecular weight of ~25 kDa per subunit. It is composed of five identical non-covalently associated subunits arranged in a cyclic pentamer. Each subunit contains a phosphocholine-binding site and a complement C1q-binding site. CRP is primarily produced in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream. Its plasma half-life is approximately 19 hours, and levels can rise up to 1000-fold during acute inflammation. The protein plays a key role in innate immunity by recognizing pathogens and damaged cells, activating complement, and facilitating clearance by phagocytes.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRP Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1281 | Human | 1401 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRPPA Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ13005 | Human | 729920 | Details Get a Quote |
| NCCRP1 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ14390 | Human | 342897 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRPPA Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ41020 | Human | 729920 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRPPA Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ42264 | Human | 729920 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRP Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ52983 | Human | 1401 | Details Get a Quote |
| NCCRP1 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ59733 | Human | 342897 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRP Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ61450 | Human | 1401 | Details Get a Quote |
| NCCRP1 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ68205 | Human | 342897 | Details Get a Quote |
| CRP Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ69947 | Human | 1401 | Details Get a Quote |
| NCCRP1 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ76578 | Human | 342897 | Details Get a Quote |
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