title: CD40/CD40L signaling and its implication in health and disease.
abstract: CD40, a transmembrane receptor of the tumor necrosis factor gene superfamily is expressed on a variety of cells, such as monocytes, B-cells, antigen presenting cells, endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. The interaction between CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) enhances the expression of cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, mainly through the stimulation of nuclear factor kappa B. The aim of this review is to summarize the molecular and cellular characteristics of CD40 and CD40L, the mechanisms that regulate their expression, the cellular responses they stimulate and finally their implication in the pathophysiology of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzigeorgiou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyberi
authors.forename: Gregorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chatzilymperis
authors.forename: Adrianos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nezos
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand