Pentraxins and atherosclerosis: the role of PTX3

Garlanda, Cecilia; Bottazzi, Barbara; Moalli, Federica; Deban, Livija; Molla, Fabiola; Latini, Roberto; Mantovani, Alberto (2011). Pentraxins and atherosclerosis: the role of PTX3. Current pharmaceutical design, 17(1), pp. 38-46. Hilversum: Bentham Science Publishers 10.2174/138161211795049750

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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.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Further Contribution)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Theodor Kocher Institute

UniBE Contributor:

Moalli, Federica

ISSN:

1381-6128

Publisher:

Bentham Science Publishers

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:23

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:06

Publisher DOI:

10.2174/138161211795049750

PubMed ID:

21226667

Web of Science ID:

000290944000006

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/7811 (FactScience: 213152)

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