Pentraxins at the crossroads between innate immunity, inflammation, matrix deposition, and female fertility.
C reactive protein, the first innate immunity receptor identified, and serum amyloid P component are classic short pentraxins produced in the liver. Long pentraxins, including the prototype PTX3, are expressed in a variety of tissues. Some long pentraxins are expressed in the brain and some are involved in neuronal plasticity and degeneration. PTX3 is produced by a variety of cells and tissues, most notably dendritic cells and macrophages, in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement and inflammatory cytokines. PTX3 acts as a functional ancestor of antibodies, recognizing microbes, activating complement, and facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, hence playing a nonredundant role in resistance against selected pathogens. In addition, PTX3 is essential in female fertility because it acts as a nodal point for the assembly of the cumulus oophorus hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix. Thus, the prototypic long pentraxin PTX3 is a multifunctional soluble pattern recognition receptor at the crossroads between innate immunity, inflammation, matrix deposition, and female fertility.
Garlanda
Cecilia
C
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20157 Milan, Italy. garlanda@marionegri.it
Bottazzi
Barbara
B
Bastone
Antonio
A
Mantovani
Alberto
A
D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008024:Ligands; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008024:Ligands; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins