Human C-reactive protein and the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Low-grade inflammation is characteristic of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). C-reactive protein (CRP), the best characterized biomarker of inflammation, is also an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. The purpose of this review is to outline the role of inflammation and high sensitivity CRP in the MetS.


RESULTS
Emerging laboratory and epidemiological data now link inflammation and high sensitivity CRP to insulin resistance and adiposity and other features of MetS. Furthermore, in large prospective studies, increased high sensitivity CRP levels in MetS confer greater cardiovascular risk. CRP has been shown to impair insulin signaling and contributes to atherothrombosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, although a high CRP level predisposes to increased cardiovascular risk in MetS, future investigation is warranted on the in-vivo role of CRP in mediating vascular effects and resulting in increased cardiovascular events in MetS patients.
Devaraj
Sridevi
S
Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, and VA Medical Center, Mather, USA.
Singh
Uma
U
Jialal
Ishwarlal
I
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012306:Risk; D015398:Signal Transduction
D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein