PTX3 and myocardial ischemia: Indeed, PTX3 overexpression limited the neointimal thickening after rat carotid artery balloon injury (94) and PTX3-deficiency was associated with augmented infarct area following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (13), increased atherosclerosis and augmented macrophage accumulation and inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques (95).