Expression and function of the B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA/CD272) on human T cells

✍ Scribed by Noriko Otsuki; Yousuke Kamimura; Masaaki Hashiguchi; Miyuki Azuma

• Book ID: 116292762
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 420 KB
• Volume: 344
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.03.242

✦ Synopsis

Co-signal receptors provide crucial activating or attenuating signals for T cells. The B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA/CD272) is a third member of co-inhibitory receptors, which belongs to the CD28 immunoglobulin-superfamily. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human BTLA, we show that BTLA is constitutively expressed on most CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and its expression progressively decreases upon T cell activation. Polarized Th1 and Th2 cells contained both BTLA-positive and BTLA-negative populations, but the extended culture diminished BTLA expression. Cross-linking BTLA with an agonistic mAb inhibited T cell proliferation and the production of the cytokines IFN-c and IL-10 in response to anti-CD3 stimulation. BTLA-mediated inhibition of T cell activation occurred during both primary CD4 + T cell responses and secondary CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses, suggesting that BTLA ligation sends a constitutive ''off'' signal to T cells and thus might play an important role in the maintenance of T cell tolerance.