MARCO

MARCO, also known as Macrophage Receptor with Collagenous Structure, is a well - studied protein. It is sometimes referred to as SCARA2. MARCO functions as a pattern - recognition receptor on macrophages, binding to various pathogens and promoting their phagocytosis. It is involved in the innate immune response signaling pathway.
Alterations in MARCO have been associated with several diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and certain infections. In drug development, scientists are exploring compounds that can modulate MARCO activity to enhance immune responses against infections or treat related inflammatory diseases, though significant progress is still awaited.