title: The role of SAP and the SLAM family in autoimmunity.
abstract: The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) family of receptors and their associated signaling adaptors play a pivotal role in the regulation of various stages of cellular immunity. They regulate lymphocyte-lymphocyte interactions involved in both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. Recent evidence indicates that members of this family of receptors and signaling intermediates are also involved in autoimmunity. These include strictly correlative studies showing increased expression of various family members in immune effectors involved in rheumatoid arthritis and in inflammatory bowel disease, as well as more direct evidence (from various knockout strains of mice) for their role in autoimmune processes such as experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and lupus. Additional studies defining naturally occurring polymorphic variations in the SLAM family show a direct role in initiating the break in tolerance that is an essential step in the progression towards autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
authors.forename: Alice Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Westcott
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wakeland
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schatzle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C114953:SH2D1A protein, human; D000071179:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Associated Protein; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1