Membrane and soluble pattern recognition receptors: the unique functions of the long pentraxin PTX3

Associations of pentraxin 3 with cardiovascular disease and all-cause death: the Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVE

We examined associations of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a vascular inflammation marker, with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause death.

METHODS AND RESULTS

1583 Cardiovascular Health Study participants free of prevalent CVD were included. Nonexclusive case groups were angina (n=476), myocardial infarction (MI; n=237), stroke (n=310), CVD death (n=282), and all-cause death (n=772). 535 participants had no events. PTX3 levels were higher in those with subclinical CVD (1.90+/-1.89 ng/mL) than those without (1.71+/-1.88 ng/mL; P=0.001). Using Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity, a standard deviation increase in PTX3 (1.89 ng/mL) was associated with CVD death (hazard ratio 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.21) and all-cause death (1.08; 1.02 to 1.15). PTX3 was not associated with angina (1.09; 0.98 to 1.20), MI (0.96; 0.81 to 1.12), or stroke (1.06; 0.95 to 1.18). Adding C-reactive protein (CRP) or CVD risk factors to the models had no significant effects on associations.

CONCLUSIONS

In these older adults, PTX3 was associated with CVD and all-cause death independent of CRP and CVD risk factors. PTX3 likely reflects different aspects of inflammation than CRP and may provide insight into vascular health in aging and chronic diseases of aging that lead to death.

The long pentraxin 3 and its role in autoimmunity

OBJECTIVES

To review the physiological and physiopathological roles of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), focusing on autoimmunity and vascular pathology.

METHODS

A systematic literature review using the keywords "pentraxin 3," "innate immunity," "apoptosis," "autoimmunity," and "endothelial dysfunction" from 1990 to 2007 was performed. All relevant articles and pertinent secondary references in English were reviewed.

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. In innate immunity, its normal function is to increase the immune response to selected pathogens while also exerting control over potential autoimmune reactions. 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.

CONCLUSION

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.

Survey of the year 2004 commercial optical biosensor literature

The year 2004 represents a milestone for the biosensor research community: in this year, over 1000 articles were published describing experiments performed using commercially available systems. The 1038 papers we found represent an approximately 10% increase over the past year and demonstrate that the implementation of biosensors continues to expand at a healthy pace. We evaluated the data presented in each paper and compiled a 'top 10' list. These 10 articles, which we recommend every biosensor user reads, describe well-performed kinetic, equilibrium and qualitative/screening studies, provide comparisons between binding parameters obtained from different biosensor users, as well as from biosensor- and solution-based interaction analyses, and summarize the cutting-edge applications of the technology. We also re-iterate some of the experimental pitfalls that lead to sub-optimal data and over-interpreted results. We are hopeful that the biosensor community, by applying the hints we outline, will obtain data on a par with that presented in the 10 spotlighted articles. This will ensure that the scientific community at large can be confident in the data we report from optical biosensors.