C-reactive protein as an "intermediate phenotype" for inflammation

Elevated circulating concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) is both a marker and an effector of cardiovascular risk. To estimate trait heritability, CRP, along with multiple facets of the metabolic syndrome, was measured in a series of 229 twins, both monozygotic and dizygotic. Based on the results of this study, CRP seems to be substantially heritable in humans, showing shared determinations with other features of the metabolic syndrome, such as BMI, triglycerides and blood pressure. A large number of genotypes were scored within catecholaminergic pathways (at biosynthetic, receptor and signal transduction levels). Multiple, common genetic variants in the catecholaminergic pathway appear to interact to influence the CRP trait. These newly discovered links between the adrenergic system and inflammation may thus become the target of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Abstract