Cell-autonomous and -non-autonomous roles of CTLA-4 in immune regulation

• Autores: Kajsa Wing, Tomoyuki Yamaguchi, Shimon Sakaguchi
• Localización: Trends in immunology, ISSN 1471-4906, Vol. 32, Nº. 9, 2011, págs. 428-433
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • It is controversial how cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4, a co-inhibitory molecule, contributes to immunological tolerance and negative control of immune responses. Its role as an inducer of cell-intrinsic negative signals to activated effector T cells is well documented. However, there is accumulating evidence that CTLA-4 is essential for the function of naturally occurring Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, which constitutively express the molecule. CTLA-4 deficiency in Foxp3+ Treg cells indeed impairs their in vivo and in vitro suppressive function. Further, Treg cells can modulate the function of CD80- and CD86-expressing antigen-presenting cells via CTLA-4. Here we discuss how CTLA-4 expression by one T cell can influence the activation of another in a cell non-autonomous fashion and thus control immune responses.