Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 (LAG-3)

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Abstract

Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3, CD223) is a protein expressed on the surface of activated T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg), natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. LAG-3 signaling inhibits T cell activation and enhances regulatory T cell function (Camisaschi et al. 2010; Grosso et al. 2007; Joosten et al. 2007; Park et al. 2012). Like other molecules such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death-1 (PD-1), and T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3), LAG-3 has attracted interest in oncology for its role as a negative regulator of T cell activation – an immunological “checkpoint” – that may play a role in helping tumors evade effective immune surveillance.

This chapter will present a brief discussion of the molecular structure and biologic function of LAG-3 as a therapeutic target. The current role of LAG-3 in cancer with attention to pertinent preclinical and clinical data will be described. Finally, the potential impact and future directions of research into the optimal use of LAG-3 as a therapeutic target will be presented.

Keywords

LAG-3 Immunotherapy T cell Cancer 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of OncologyJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaltimoreUSA
  2. 2.Department of Oncology, Melanoma and Cancer Immunology ProgramsJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterBaltimoreUSA

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