title: Essential PTX3 biology (not only) for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
abstract: Inflammation has been recognized to form an integral part of the atherosclerotic process. Much consideration has been given lately to the role played in atherogenesis by C-reactive protein (CRP). Although not accepted unequivocally, CRP appears to be not only a marker, but also an active mediator of the atherosclerotic process. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a newly identified acute phase reactant which shares some structural and some functional properties with CRP. On the other hand, pentraxin 3 displays unique biological properties of its own, including a possible role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and in processes accompanying the natural evolution of surgical wounds. This review article discusses recent information concerning basic pentraxin 3 biology in inflammation and in innate immunity reactions as viewed by a cardiologist in the context of acute coronary events and by a surgeon in patients struck with multiple wounds who are at the same time menaced by bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Czech Republic. kunes.pavel@fnhk.cz
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kunes
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lonský
authors.forename: Jirí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mand'ák
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brtko
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolácková
authors.forename: Ctirad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrýs
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudlová
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krejsek
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000502:physiology*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins