Binding of C-reactive protein to antigen-induced but not mitogen-induced T lymphoblasts.

The C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant which binds selectively to T (thymus-derived) lymphocytes, was found to bind to lymphoblasts formed upon stimulation with antigens but not with mitogens. Binding of CRP thus serves as a marker for antigen-reactive (-reacted) as opposed to mitogen-reative (-reacted) T cells, suggesting that these represent separate subpopulations, and supports the developing concept that CRP play an important role in the regulation of responses critical to inflammation, host defense, and tissue repair.