title: The long pentraxin 3 and its role in autoimmunity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the physiological and physiopathological roles of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), focusing on autoimmunity and vascular pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review using the keywords "pentraxin 3," "innate immunity," "apoptosis," "autoimmunity," and "endothelial dysfunction" from 1990 to 2007 was performed. All relevant articles and pertinent secondary references in English were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTX3 has a large number of multiple functions in different contexts. PTX3 plays an important role in innate immunity, inflammation, vascular integrity, fertility, pregnancy, and also in the central nervous system. In innate immunity, its normal function is to increase the immune response to selected pathogens while also exerting control over potential autoimmune reactions. It maintains a tightly homeostatic equilibrium in the local immune microenvironment by avoiding an exaggerated immune response and controlling peripheral tolerance to self-antigens. In contrast, in some autoimmune diseases, PTX3 appears to be involved in the development of autoimmune phenomena. A possible explanation for these apparent paradoxical functions may be related to the highly polymorphic PTX3 gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX3 is physiologically a protective molecule. However, in several autoimmune diseases PTX3 appears to facilitate the development of autoimmunity. The PTX3 gene could influence the development of autoimmune reactions and vascular involvement in human pathology.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Biology and Immunogenetics Unit (CBIGU), Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Cra. 72A-78B-141, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Oscar-Danilo
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Ortega-Hernandez
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
authors.forename: Juan-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anaya
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins