Regulating the mucosal immune system: the contrasting roles of LIGHT, HVEM, and their various partners.
LIGHT and herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) comprise a ligand-receptor pair in the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. These molecules play an important role in regulating immunity, particularly in the intestinal mucosa. LIGHT also binds the lymphotoxin beta receptor, and HVEM can act as a ligand for immunoglobulin family molecules, including B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator, which suppresses immune responses. Complexity in this pivotal system arises from several factors, including the non-monogamous pairing of ligands and receptors, and reverse signaling or the ability of some ligands to serve as receptors. As a result, recognition events in this fascinating network of interacting molecules can have pro- or anti-inflammatory consequences. Despite complexity, experiments we and others are carrying out are establishing rules for understanding when and in what cell types these molecules contribute to intestinal inflammation.
Steinberg
Marcos W
MW
Division of Developmental Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Shui
Jr-Wen
JW
Ware
Carl F
CF
Kronenberg
Mitchell
M
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14 / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14 / Q000276:immunology*
D053240:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14; C506028:TNFRSF14 protein, human; C505914:TNFSF14 protein, human; D053326:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 14