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The long pentraxin PTX3 as a link among innate immunity, inflammation, and female fertility
Author(s) -
Bottazzi Barbara,
Bastone Antonio,
Doni Andrea,
Garlanda Cecilia,
Valentino Sonia,
Deban Livija,
Maina Virginia,
Cotena Alessia,
Moalli Federica,
Vago Luca,
Salustri Antonietta,
Romani Luigina,
Mantovani Alberto
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.1005557
Subject(s) - ptx3 , innate immune system , biology , inflammation , pattern recognition receptor , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , complement system , proinflammatory cytokine , acquired immune system , antibody , immune system
The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is member of a complex superfamily of multifunctional proteins characterized by a cyclic multimeric structure. PTX3 is highly conserved in evolution and is produced by innate‐immunity cells in response to proinflammatory signals and Toll‐like receptor engagement. PTX3 plays complex, nonredundant functions in vivo, acting as a predecessor of antibodies, recognizing microbes, activating complement, facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, and hence, playing a nonredundant role in resistance against selected pathogens. 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. Thus, the prototypic long pentraxin PTX3 is a multifunctional, soluble pattern recognition receptor acting as a nonredundant component of the humoral arm of innate immunity and involved in matrix deposition and female fertility.