Ortega-Hernandez OD et al. - Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is physiologically a protective molecule. However, in several autoimmune diseases PTX3 appears to facilitate the development of autoimmunity. The PTX3 gene could influence the development of autoimmune reactions and vascular involvement in human pathology. Methods
Study to review the physiological and physiopathological roles of PTX3, focusing on autoimmunity and vascular pathology
A systematic literature review from 1990 to 2007 was performed
Results
PTX3 has a large number of multiple functions in different contexts
PTX3 plays an important role in innate immunity, inflammation, vascular integrity, fertility, pregnancy, and also in the central nervous system
It maintains a tightly homeostatic equilibrium in the local immune microenvironment by avoiding an exaggerated immune response and controlling peripheral tolerance to self-antigens
In contrast, in some autoimmune diseases, PTX3 appears to be involved in the development of autoimmune phenomena
A possible explanation for these apparent paradoxical functions may be related to the highly polymorphic PTX3 gene
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