title: Immune semaphorins: a new area of semaphorin research.
abstract: The semaphorin family comprises soluble and membrane-bound proteins originally identified as axonal guidance cues that function during neuronal development. Emerging evidence suggests that a subset of semaphorins, called 'immune semaphorins', function in the immune system. The class IV semaphorins Sema4D/CD100 and Sema4A use CD72 and Tim-2, respectively, as receptors during immune responses; these receptors comprise a set distinct from those used by semaphorins in the nervous system. Sema4D/CD100, which is expressed constitutively by T cells, is involved in the activation of B cells and dendritic cells, whereas Sema4A is preferentially expressed on B cells and dendritic cells, and is involved in the activation of T cells. Additionally, increasing evidence suggests that some other semaphorins, including viral-encoded semaphorins, might also play important roles in the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumanogoh
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kikutani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; C093224:CD100 antigen; C064228:CD72 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492119:PLXNB1 protein, human; C492118:Plxnb1 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins; C442242:Timd2 protein, mouse