PTX3 and atherosclerosis: Concerning the pathophysiological role of PTX3 in atherosclerosis, studies performed on PTX3 knockout mice reported vascular wall inflammation and a high uptake by macrophages of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques, since PTX3 is normally located at the membrane of late apoptotic macrophages and mediates the phagocytosis of macrophages.