Open AccessRole of the soluble pattern recognition receptor PTX3 in vascular biology
Author(s) -
Presta Marco,
Camozzi Maura,
Salvatori Giovanni,
Rusnati Marco
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00061.x
Subject(s) - ptx3 , serum amyloid p component , innate immune system , pattern recognition receptor , inflammation , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , angiogenesis , complement system , receptor , immunology , cancer research , immune system , biochemistry , c reactive protein
• Introduction • PTX3 gene and expression • PTX3 protein structure • PTX3 ligands • PTX3 in vascular pathology ‐ PTX3 as a marker of vascular damage ‐ Atherosclerosis ‐ Angiogenesis ‐ Restenosis• Concluding remarksAbstract 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 molecule and it binds the complement fraction C1q. PTX3 binds also apoptotic cells and selected pathogens, playing a role in innate immunity processes. In endothelial cells and macrophages, PTX3 upregulates tissue factor expression, suggesting its action as a regulator of endothelium during thrombogenesis and ischaemic vascular disease. Finally, PTX3 binds the angiogenic fibroblast growth factor‐2, thus inhibiting its biological activity. Taken together, these properties point to a role for PTX3 during vascular damage, angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, and restenosis.