Role of the soluble pattern recognition receptor PTX3 in vascular biology.

ABSTRACT: Pentraxins act as soluble pattern recognition receptors with a wide range of functions in various pathophysiological conditions. The long-pentraxin PTX3 shares the C-terminal pentraxin-domain with short-pentraxins C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component and possesses an unique N-terminal domain. These structural features suggest that PTX3 may have both overlapping and distinct biological/ligand recognition properties when compared to short-pentraxins. PTX3 serves as a mechanism of amplification of inflammation and innate immunity. Indeed, vessel wall elements produce high amounts of PTX3 during inflammation and the levels of circulating PTX3 increase in several pathological conditions affecting the cardiovascular system. PTX3 exists as a free or extracellular matrix-associated mol

SUBMITTER: Presta M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3823252 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature