title: Pentraxin 3, a non-redundant soluble pattern recognition receptor involved in innate immunity.
abstract: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is the first long pentraxin identified. Long pentraxins consist of a C-terminal pentraxin domain, which has sequence similarity to C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P (SAP) component (the classic short pentraxins), and of an unrelated N-terminal portion. PTX3 is made by diverse cell types, most prominently endothelial cells, macrophages and dendritic cells, in response to primary inflammatory signals (e.g. interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)). It binds diverse ligands, including microbial moieties, C1q and apoptotic cells. Evidence suggests that PTX3 plays a role in the regulation of innate resistance to pathogens, inflammatory reactions, possibly clearance of self-components and female fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy. mantovani@marionegri.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garlanda
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins