Critical Reviews™ in Immunology

ISSN for PRINT: 1040-8401

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2003, Volume23

Issue 1&2

152 pages

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v23.i12

Issue price - $264.00

Brendan O'Sullivan
Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Queensland 4102, Australia

Ranjeny Thomas
Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, University of Queensland, Research Extension, Building 1, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia

CD40 has emerged as a key signaling pathway for the function of B cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells (DC) in the immune system, and plays a major role in inflammatory pathways of nonhemopoietic cells. CD40 is expressed by monocytes and DC and is up-regulated when DC migrate from the periphery to draining lymph nodes (DLN) in response to microbial challenge. CD154 signaling by MHC-restricted, activated CD4⁺ T cells induces differentiation of DC, as defined by an increased surface expression of MHC, costimulatory, and adhesion molecules. Thus, CD40 functions in the adaptive immune response as a trigger for the expression of costimulatory molecules for efficient T-cell activation. CD40 ligation of DC also has the capacity to induce high levels of the cytokine IL-12, which polarizes CD4⁺ T cells toward a T helper 1 (Th1) type, enhances proliferation of CD8⁺ T cells, and activates NK cells. CD40 may also play an important role in the decision between tolerance and immunity and the generation of regulatory CD4⁺ T cells that are thought to maintain peripheral self-tolerance in vivo.

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v23.i12.50 Download article, 25 pages

Article price - $35.00

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