Long pentraxin PTX3 deficiency worsens LPS-induced acute lung injury

Objective Long pentraxin PTX3 is an inflammatory mediator and a component of the humoral arm of innate immunity. PTX3 expression is increased in animals with acute lung injury (ALI) and in patients with sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome and is considered to be a potential biomarker for these diseases. However, the role of PTX3 in the pathogenesis of ALI is not fully understood. We hypothesized that PTX3, as an important immune modulator, may determine the severity of ALI.