CTLA-4 co-receptor impacts on the function of Treg and CD8+ T-cell subsets.
CTLA-4 has potent regulatory effects on the threshold of T-cell signalling and, in the process, guards against the development of hyper-proliferation and autoimmunity. Despite this, the role of CTLA-4 on specific T-cell subsets has been unclear. Such studies could shed light on both the function of CTLA-4, and on the contribution of the subsets to the disease phenotype of the Ctla4(-/-) mouse. Recently, a role for this co-receptor in the function of Treg has been outlined and, in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, the selective targeting of the T-box transcription factor Eomes by CTLA-4 in the regulation of CD8(+) cytolytic T-cell (CTL) effector function is shown. Together, these papers shed light on the role of CTLA-4 in different T-cell subsets.
Rudd
Christopher E
CE
Department of Pathology, Cell Signalling Section, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556707:Ctla4 protein, mouse; D007371:Interferon-gamma