title: Immunomodulatory roles of the carcinoembryonic antigen family of glycoproteins.
abstract: One of the most remarkable aspects of the immune system is its ability to fashion an immune response most appropriate to the activating stimulus. Although the immune system possesses a number of adaptations to accomplish this, an important theme is local immune regulation by site-specific expression of receptors and ligands. One family of molecules that is gaining attention as modulators of the immune system is the carcinoembryonic antigen cell-adhesion molecule family (CEACAM). Functionally, the carcinoembryonic antigen family can mediate cell-cell contact, host-pathogen interactions, and immune regulation. For example, biliary glycoprotein (CEACAM1) can have direct activity on T cells, leading to the inhibition of helper or cytotoxic T cell function. The expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEACAM5) on intestinal epithelial cells is involved in the activation of populations of regulatory CD8(+) T cells, while a distinct subset of regulatory CD8+ T cells is activated by nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (CEACAM6) on placental trophoblasts. Interestingly, the function and phenotype of these cells depend upon the specific member of the carcinoembryonic antigen family expressed, as well as the antigen-presenting molecule with which it associates. Thus, these glycoproteins comprise a family of molecules whose functions can depend on their nature and context.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunobiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. lloyd.mayer@mssm.edu.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allez
authors.forename: Mee-Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006023:Glycoproteins