title: CTLA4 gene polymorphism and autoimmunity.
abstract: CD28 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4) are two receptors that have critical but opposing functions in T-cell stimulation. CD28 promotes a number of T-cell activities, whereas in contrast CTLA4 is an essential inhibitor of T-cell responses. Because of its inhibitory role, CTLA4 is a strong candidate susceptibility gene in autoimmunity and several studies suggest disease-associated polymorphisms. In this review, we discuss recent progress in relating CTLA4 polymorphisms to disease susceptibility and consider the putative mechanisms by which CTLA4 may act to inhibit autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B9 5SS, UK. s.c.gough@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen C L
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.forename: Lucy S K
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sansom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human