Background. PTX3 is a component of innate immunity involved in resistance to infections. In previous research projects funded by Fondazione Ricerca Fibrosi Cistica, our group demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PTX3 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus infections and showed that specific PTX3 genetic variants are associated to P. aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis patients and in A. fumigatus infection. Both in infectious and inflammatory conditions, PTX3 behaves as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. PTX3 is under development for the transfer to the clinic as therapeutic tool for opportunistic infections and as diagnostic/prognostic marker in inflammatory conditions.

Hypothesis and objectives. The main objectives were to investigate whether PTX3 plasma levels and PTX3 production by leukocytes could represent a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker of inflammation and infection in CF patients and/or a marker of defective functional activity of leukocytes.