Lymphotoxin beta, a novel member of the TNF family that forms a heteromeric complex with lymphotoxin on the cell surface.
The lymphokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has a well-defined role as an inducer of inflammatory responses; however, the function of the structurally related molecule lymphotoxin (LT alpha) is unknown. LT alpha is present on the surface of activated T, B, and LAK cells as a complex with a 33 kd glycoprotein, and cloning of the cDNA encoding the associated protein, called lymphotoxin beta (LT beta), revealed it to be a type II membrane protein with significant homology to TNF, LT alpha, and the ligand for the CD40 receptor. The gene for LT beta was found next to the TNF-LT locus in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a region of the MHC with possible linkage to autoimmune disease. These observations raise the possibility that a surface LT alpha-LT beta complex may have a specific role in immune regulation distinct from the functions ascribed to TNF.
Browning
J L
JL
Biogen Incorporated 14 Cambridge Center, Massachusetts 02142.
Ngam-ek
A
A
Lawton
P
P
DeMarinis
J
J
Tizard
R
R
Chow
E P
EP
Hession
C
C
O'Brine-Greco
B
B
Foley
S F
SF
Ware
C F
CF
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha