title: CD40/CD40L dyad in the inflammatory and immune responses in the central nervous system.
abstract: CD40 and its cognate ligand (CD40L) are a pair of regulators of pro-inflammatory and immune responses. In the central nervous system (CNS), CD40 is expressed on a variety of cells, including vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, astrocytes and microglia (the brain macrophages, being the most sensitive cell type to respond to CD40 ligand). Interaction between CD40 on microglia and CD40L presented by infiltrating T lymphocytes and other resident CNS cells triggers a series of intracellular signaling events that promote the production of a wide array of cytokines, chemokines and neurotoxins. Thus, both molecules serve as amplifiers of pro-inflammatory and immune responses in the CNS and constitute important molecular targets for therapeutic intervention of diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 201101, China. kchen@mail.ncifcrf.gov
authors.forename: Keqiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wanghua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Lingzhi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peichu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ji Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand