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Chapter category: Protein

Regulation of T Cell Immunity by OX40 and OX40L

Chapter authors:
Michael Croft, Shahram Salek-Ardakani, Jianxun Song, Takanori So and Pratima Bansal-Pakala

OX40 (CD134) and its binding partner OX40-ligand (OX40L) represent members of the TNFR and TNF superfamilies that appear to be crucial to many types of immune reaction mediated by T cells. Emerging data have now put these molecules at the forefront of the field of what has been termed T cell costimulation. Costimulation is defined as signals from membrane bound molecules that synergize with, or modify, signals provided when the T cell encounters its specific antigen. In large part, costimulation is essential for an efficient T cell response, whether it is protective or pathogenic, and without costimulatory interactions between membrane bound receptor-ligand pairs, a T cell is ineffective and may often succumb to death or become nonfunctional. OX40 is induced on the T cell surface a number of hours or days after recognition of antigen, and expression coincides with the appearance of OX40L on several cell types that can present antigen such as dendritic cells and B cells. Recent data show that OX40 can provide signals to a T cell to allow prolonged cell division after activation and to prevent excessive cell death. The OX40/OX40L interaction then controls the absolute number of pathogenic or protective effector T cells that are generated at the peak of the immune response and dictates the frequency of memory T cells that subsequently develop. This then has implications regarding strategies to suppress unwanted immune responses, and for vaccination to promote naturally weak immune responses. Reagents that interfere with the binding of OX40 to OX40L have been shown to inhibit T cell responses and pathogenic symptoms in a number of immune based diseases. Conversely reagents that augment OX40 signals have now shown therapeutic efficacy in models of cancer. This article will review the literature regarding these molecules and discuss their implications in T cell immunity.

Michael Croft
Division of Immunochemistry, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

Shahram Salek-Ardakani
Division of Immunochemistry, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

Jianxun Song
Division of Immunochemistry, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

Takanori So
Division of Immunochemistry, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

Pratima Bansal-Pakala
Division of Immunochemistry, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

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