Human Pentraxin-Related Protein Ptx3, PTX3 Primacu™ ELI

Pentraxin-related protein PTX3, also known as Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 5, Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 14 protein, TSG-14, PTX3 and TNFAIP5, is a secreted protein that contains one pentaxin domain.

PTX3 plays a role in the regulation of innate resistance to pathogens, inflammatory reactions, possibly clearance of self-components and female fertility.

Pentraxins are a family of evolutionarily conserved multifunctional pattern-recognition proteins characterized by a cyclic multimeric structure.

Based on the primary structure of the subunit, the pentraxins are divided into two groups: short pentraxins and long pentraxins.

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P-component (SAP) are the two short pentraxins.

The prototype protein of the long pentraxin group is pentraxin 3 (PTX3).

CRP and SAP are produced primarily in the liver in response to IL-6, while PTX3 is produced by a variety of tissues and cells and in particular by innate immunity cells in response to proinflammatory signals and Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement.

PTX3 is essential in female fertility by acting as a nodal point for the assembly of the cumulus oophorus hyaluronan-rich extracellular matrix.

PTX3 interacts with several ligands, including growth factors, extracellular matrix components and selected pathogens, playing a role in complement activation and facilitating pathogen recognition by phagocytes, acting as a predecessor of antibodies.

PTX3 may also contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.