title: Pentraxins and atherosclerosis: the role of PTX3.
abstract: Pentraxins are a family of evolutionarily conserved multifunctional pattern-recognition proteins characterized by a cyclic multimeric structure. Based on the primary structure of the subunit, the pentraxins are divided into two groups: short pentraxins and long pentraxins. C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P-component (SAP) are the two short pentraxins. The prototype protein of the long pentraxin group is pentraxin 3 (PTX3). CRP and SAP are produced primarily in the liver in response to IL-6, while PTX3 is produced by a variety of tissues and cells and in particular by innate immunity cells in response to proinflammatory signals and Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement. PTX3 interacts with several ligands, including growth factors, extracellular matrix components and selected pathogens, playing a role in complement activation and facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, acting as a predecessor of antibodies. In addition, PTX3 is essential in female fertility by acting as a nodal point for the assembly of the cumulus oophorus hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix. Here we will concisely review the general properties of PTX3 in the context of the pentraxin superfamily and discuss recent data suggesting that PTX3 plays a cardiovascular protective effect. PTX3 may represent a new marker in vascular pathology which correlates with the risk of developing vascular events.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garlanda
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moalli
authors.forename: Livija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deban
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molla
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins