Acta Med. 2007, 50: 29-33
Essential PTX3 Biology (not only) for Cardiologists and Cardiac Surgeons
Inflammation has been recognized to form an integral part of the atherosclerotic process. Much consideration has been given lately to the role played in atherogenesis by C-reactive protein (CRP). Although not accepted unequivocally, CRP appears to be not only a marker, but also an active mediator of the atherosclerotic process. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a newly identified acute phase reactant which shares some structural and some functional properties with CRP. On the other hand, pentraxin 3 displays unique biological properties of its own, including a possible role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and in processes accompanying the natural evolution of surgical wounds. This review article discusses recent information concerning basic pentraxin 3 biology in inflammation and in innate immunity reactions as viewed by a cardiologist in the context of acute coronary events and by a surgeon in patients struck with multiple wounds who are at the same time menaced by bacterial infections.
Keywords
Pentraxin 3, C-reactive protein, Acute phase response, Apoptosis, Macrophages, Dendritic cells, Innate immunity.
Funding
This work has been supported by a research program of The Czech Ministry of Youth, Scholarship and Physical Activities No. MSM 0021620812.
References
Copyright
Published by the Karolinum Press. For permission to use please write to actamedica@lfhk.cuni.cz.
