Immune Network  2013;13(5):184-193

doi:10.4110/in.2013.13.5.184

Emerging Co-signaling Networks in T Cell Immune Regulation.

Keunok JUNG 1 ; Inhak CHOI

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Co-signaling molecule; B7 family; Co-stimulation; Co-inhibition

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Co-signaling molecules are surface glycoproteins that positively or negatively regulate the T cell response to antigen. Co-signaling ligands and receptors crosstalk between the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T cells, and modulate the ultimate magnitude and quality of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. In the past 10 years, the field of co-signaling research has been advanced by the understanding of underlying mechanisms of the immune modulation led by newly identified co-signaling molecules and the successful preclinical and clinical trials targeting co-inhibitory molecules called immune checkpoints in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancers. In this review, we briefly describe the characteristics of well-known B7 co-signaling family members regarding the expression, functions and therapeutic implications and to introduce newly identified B7 members such as B7-H5, B7-H6, and B7-H7.