title: CD40 and its crucial role as a member of the TNFR family.
abstract: The cell surface molecule CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family and plays a pivotal role in the immune system due in part to its wide tissue distribution. Early studies focused on CD40 in B cell biology, but recent work demonstrates a broader role for CD40 in the immune system contributing to cell-mediated as well as humoral immune responses. Disruption of CD40 and its ligand, CD154 leads to immunodeficiency as in the case of hyper IgM syndrome. Likewise, blockade of CD40-CD154 interactions can be exploited to control misguided autoimmune responses. This article provides a brief overview of CD40 with a focus on its involvement in disease and its usefulness as a therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Noelle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D023201:CD40 Ligand