Pentraxins, anti-pentraxin antibodies, and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a disease of the vascular wall, which predominantly affects large and medium-sized arteries. It represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world. In the last few decades, it has been clearly shown that immune system plays a relevant role in atherogenesis. The effectors of both innate and adaptive immunity, including immune cells, cell or soluble receptors, cytokines, chemokines, complement components or coagulation systems, and autoantibodies are able to modulate atherosclerosis. Among proteins belonging to innate immunity, the highly conserved pentraxin family, which encompass C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid P (SAP), and the long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) seems to be directly involved in the induction and progression of atherosclerosis. By immunohistochemical staining, pentraxins were found within the atherosclerotic plaques where they could play a key role interacting with atherogenic-modified lipoproteins, favoring the formation of foam cells, and exerting a proinflammatory action. Pentraxin serum levels have been shown to be associated with clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis in general population. Antibodies against pentraxins have been demonstrated in patients with autoimmune diseases, but their role in atherogenesis is still controversial.