Frontiers in Immunology (Jul 2023)

Current understanding of CTLA-4: from mechanism to autoimmune diseases

  • Md Munnaf Hossen,
  • Md Munnaf Hossen,
  • Md Munnaf Hossen,
  • Yanmei Ma,
  • Yanmei Ma,
  • Yanmei Ma,
  • Zhihua Yin,
  • Zhihua Yin,
  • Yuhao Xia,
  • Yuhao Xia,
  • Jing Du,
  • Jim Yi Huang,
  • Jennifer Jin Huang,
  • Linghua Zou,
  • Linghua Zou,
  • Zhizhong Ye,
  • Zhizhong Ye,
  • Zhong Huang,
  • Zhong Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1198365
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

Read online

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by the production of autoreactive lymphocytes, immune responses to self-antigens, and inflammation in related tissues and organs. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is majorly expressed in activated T cells and works as a critical regulator in the inflammatory response. In this review, we first describe the structure, expression, and how the signaling pathways of CTLA-4 participate in reducing effector T-cell activity and enhancing the immunomodulatory ability of regulatory T (Treg) cells to reduce immune response, maintain immune homeostasis, and maintain autoimmune silence. We then focused on the correlation between CTLA-4 and different ADs and how this molecule regulates the immune activity of the diseases and inhibits the onset, progression, and pathology of various ADs. Finally, we summarized the current progress of CTLA-4 as a therapeutic target for various ADs.

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