CRP and infection: CRP seems to play a major role in inflammation and host responses to infection by its effects on the complement pathway, apoptosis, phagocytosis, nitric oxide release, release of proatherosclerotic factors like soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (195, 196) and production of cytokines, particularly interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α.