title: The Dual Complexity of PTX3 in Health and Disease: A Balancing Act?
abstract: The humoral arm of innate immunity is complex and includes various molecules that serve as markers of inflammation with complementary characteristics, such as the short pentraxins C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P (SAP) and the long pentraxin PTX3. There is a growing amount of evidence - including mouse and human genetics - that suggests that PTX3 is essential in conferring host resistance against selected pathogens and, moreover, that it plays a dual antagonistic role in the regulation of inflammation. Dissection of such a yin-and-yang role of pentraxins in immunity and inflammation is timely and significant as it may pave the way for better clinical exploitation against various diseases.
authors.affiliation: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan 20089, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.affiliation: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan 20089, Italy; Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan 20089, 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 20089, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garlanda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins