title: The yin-yang of long pentraxin PTX3 in inflammation and immunity.
abstract: Pentraxins are a family of multimeric proteins characterized by the presence of a pentraxin signature in their C-terminus region. Based on the primary structure, pentraxins are divided into short and long pentraxin: C-reactive protein (CRP) is the prototype of the short pentraxin subfamily while pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is the prototypic long pentraxin. Despite these two molecules exert similar fundamental actions in the regulation of innate immune and inflammatory responses, several differences exist between CRP and PTX3, including gene organization, protein oligomerization and expression pattern. The pathophysiological roles of PTX3 have been investigated using genetically modified mice since PTX3 gene organization and regulation are well conserved between mouse and human. Such in vivo studies figured out that PTX3 mainly have host-protective effects, even if it could also exert negative effects under certain pathophysiologic conditions. Here we will review the general properties of CRP and PTX3, emphasizing the differences between the two molecules and the regulatory functions exerted by PTX3 in innate immunity and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daigo
authors.affiliation: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: alberto.mantovani@humanitasresearch.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.bottazzi@humanitasresearch.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005810:Multigene Family; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins
keywords: Inflammation; Innate immunity; PTX3; Pentraxin