TNF ligands and receptors in autoimmunity: an update

• Published in: Current Opinion in Immunology 2002-12, Vol.14 (6), p.783-790
• Main Authors: Mackay, Fabienne, Kalled, Susan L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases - etiology; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; Autoimmune Diseases - metabolism; autoimmunity; B cells; B-Cell Activating Factor; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Humans; Ligands; Lymphotoxin-alpha - immunology; Lymphotoxin-alpha - metabolism; Lymphotoxin-beta; Membrane Proteins - immunology; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - immunology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - metabolism; regulatory T cells; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; TNF family; tolerance; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0952-7915; 1879-0372
• DOI: 10.1016/S0952-7915(02)00407-7

Over two decades of research have increased the interest in factors from the tumor necrosis factor family. The vast majority of these factors are powerful modulators of critical immune functions and participate in pathogenic mechanisms leading to autoimmune disease. This field constantly evolves with the addition of new family members and the discovery of their function. During the past few years several additional factors from this family, such as BAFF, RANKL, TRAIL and GITRL, have emerged with novel functions that regulate both T and B cell immune tolerance and participate in tissue destruction in autoimmunity. These new findings revealed exciting innovative strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. A new generation of treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases has emerged from recent studies of new ligands and receptors from the TNF family.