title: Pentraxins in innate immunity and inflammation.
abstract: C-reactive protein, the first innate immunity receptor identified, and serum amyloid P component are classic short pentraxins produced in the liver. Long pentraxins, the prototype of which is PTX3, are expressed in a variety of tissues. PTX3 is produced by a variety of cells and tissues, most notably dendritic cells and macrophages, in response to TLR engagement and inflammatory cytokines. PTX3 acts as a functional ancestor of antibodies, recognizing microbes, activating complement, facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, hence playing a non-redundant role in resistance against selected pathogens, in particular in the lung. 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via Manzoni, 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garlanda
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cotena
authors.forename: Livija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deban
authors.forename: Viriginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maina
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moalli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doni
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veliz-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008024:Ligands; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000099153:Pentraxins