Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2021)

Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2 in Host Immunity: Current Insights and Perspectives

  • Zhenyu Wu,
  • Zhenyu Wu,
  • Patrick Li,
  • Patrick Li,
  • Yuzi Tian,
  • Yuzi Tian,
  • Wenlu Ouyang,
  • Wenlu Ouyang,
  • Jessie Wai-Yan Ho,
  • Hasan B. Alam,
  • Yongqing Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.761946
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

Read online

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a group of enzymes that catalyze post-translational modifications of proteins by converting arginine residues into citrullines. Among the five members of the PAD family, PAD2 and PAD4 are the most frequently studied because of their abundant expression in immune cells. An increasing number of studies have identified PAD2 as an essential factor in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The successes of preclinical research targeting PAD2 highlights the therapeutic potential of PAD2 inhibition, particularly in sepsis and autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms by which PAD2 mediates host immunity remain largely unknown. In this review, we will discuss the role of PAD2 in different types of cell death signaling pathways and the related immune disorders contrasted with functions of PAD4, providing novel therapeutic strategies for PAD2-associated pathology.

Keywords