title: [Involvement of αEβ7 (CD103) in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases].
abstract: αEβ7 (CD103), one of integrin family molecules, is a heterodimer consisting of an αE subunit and a β7 subunit. αEβ7 is expressed in several subsets of lymphocytes including T cells, intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria lymphocytes. αEβ7 a ligand for E-cadherin, which is mainly expressed in epithelial cells, and an interaction between αEβ7 and E-cadherin results in adhesion of lymphocytes to epithelial cells. We found that EC5 domain, one of domains consisting E-cadherin, was indispensable for binding of E-cadherin with αEβ7. Accumulating evidence suggests that αEβ7 is not only involved in intestinal immune responses but also tissue damages associated with inflammatory diseases including autoimmune diseases. While E-cadherin is constitutively expressed in epithelial cells, the expression of αEβ7 is induced in T cells upon inflammatory stimulation in vitro. In addition, TGF-β1 induces the expression of αEβ7 via a pathway including Smad. These findings raise the possibility that αEβ7 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. We postulate that molecules that interfere with interaction between αEβ7 and E-cadherin are drug candidates for the diseases. We have been focusing on αEβ7 and vigorously investigating the mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University, School of Medicine.
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Yoshimoto
authors: Takahiko
authors: T
authors: Kurasawa
authors: Katsuya
authors: K
authors: Suzuki
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000276:immunology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; C091367:alpha E integrins