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4-1BB signaling beyond T cells

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Abstract

Originally discovered as a T cell-activating molecule, 4-1BB (CD137) is now also recognized as an activator of non-T cells, thus imparting a new dimension to its potential in vivo effects. 4-1BB expression is seen on a variety of non-T cells including activated dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, neutrophils, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and promotes their individual effector functions. The T cell- and non-T cell-activating ability of 4-1BB may be the basis of its powerful anti-cancer, anti-autoimmune and anti-viral effects. Here we discuss the consequence and importance of 4-1BB signaling in non-T cells. We consider its effects on immune regulation, and the distinct and/or overlapping pathways involved in these responses, as well as possible therapeutic applications.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Cancer Center, Korea (NCC-0890830-2 and NCC-0810720-2); the Korean Science and Engineering Foundation (Stem Cell-M10641000040 and Discovery of Global New Drug-M10870060009); the Korean Research Foundation (KRF-2005-084-E00001); and Korea Health 21 R&D (A050260).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Dass S Vinay & Byoung S Kwon

  2. Cell and Immunobiology, and R&D Center for Cancer Therapeutics, National Cancer Center, Ilsan, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea

    Byoung S Kwon

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  1. Dass S Vinay
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Correspondence to Byoung S Kwon.

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Vinay, D., Kwon, B. 4-1BB signaling beyond T cells. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 281–284 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.82

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