Pentraxins in Humoral Innate Immunity

Abstract

Innate immunity represents the first line of defence against pathogens and plays key roles in activation and orientation of the adaptive immune response. The innate immune system comprises both a cellular and a humoral arm. Components of the humoral arm include soluble pattern recognition molecules (PRMs) that recognise pathogens associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiate the immune response in coordination with the cellular arm, therefore acting as functional ancestors of antibodies. The long pentraxin PTX3 is a prototypic soluble PRM that is produced at sites of infection and inflammation by both somatic and immune cells. Gene targeting of this evolutionarily conserved protein has revealed a non-redundant role in resistance to selected pathogens. Moreover, PTX3 exerts important functions at the crossroad between innate immunity, inflammation and female fertility. Here we review the studies on PTX3, with emphasis on pathogen recognition and crosstalk with other components of the innate immune system.

Pentraxin-3 serum levels are associated with disease severity and mortality in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

“…No. 1826-TS) adsorbed to Al(OH) 3 , mixed in 1:1 ratio with Freud's incomplete adjuvant. Four days prior to the fusion, the mice received an intravenous injection with 25 mg antigen administered with adrenalin.…”

“…It represents a functional ancestor of antibodies as it recognises conserved microbial moieties and initiates the immune response in coordination with the cellular arm [3].…”

Functional characterisation and expression analysis of recombinant serum amyloid P isoform 1 (RbSAP1) from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus)

“…According to the primary structure of its members, the pentraxin family is divided into two groups: short and long pentraxins [7]. Serum amyloid P (SAP) and C-reactive protein (CRP), which belong to the short pentraxin family, bind a wide range of ligands, usually in a Ca 2þ -dependent manner [8,9]. The ligands of SAP include polysaccharides, cellular matrix components, heparin, mannose-6-phosphate, 3-sulphated saccharides, 4,6-cyclic pyruvate acetal of galactose, glycosylaminoglycan, bacterial endotoxic lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and phosphoethanolamine [10e13].…”

Cardiovascular Biomarker Assessment Across Glycemic Status

“…However, despite having the name "acute," these responses are often found in chronic diseases such as arthritis or cancer [25]. Structurally, CRP is a pentraxin consisting of five identical, noncovalently associated subunits that are arranged symmetrically around a central pore [26]. CRP is produced mainly from the liver through signals from cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, and its primary effect is believed to be anti-inflammatory [27].…”