C-reactive protein (CRP) 1 is the prototypical acute phase protein; serum levels of CRP increase by as much as 2,000-fold during the first 24-48 h after the onset of certain types of inflammation (1, 2). Although CRP was discovered over fifty years ago (3), subsequent studies have yet to uncover a unique function for CRP. It is believed that CRP resembles immunoglobulins because, when bound to ...