Direct Interaction of CD40 on Tumor Cells with CD40L on T Cells Increases the Proliferation of Tumor Cells by Enhancing TGF-β Production and Th17 Differentiation

It has recently been reported that the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction is important in Th17 development. In addition, transforming growth factor—beta (TGF-β) promotes tumorigenesis as an immunosuppressive cytokine and is crucial in the development of Th17 cells. This study investigated the role of CD40 in breast cancer cells and its role in immunosuppressive function and tumor progression. CD40 was highly expressed in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231, and its stimulation with CD40 antibodies caused the up-regulation of TGF-β. Direct CD40-CD40L interaction between MDA-MB231 cells and activated T cells also increased TGF-β production and induced the production of IL-17, which accelerated the proliferation of MDA-MB231 cells through the activation of STAT3. Taken together, the direct CD40-CD40L interaction of breast tumor cells and activated T cells increases TGF-β production and the differentiation of Th17 cells, which promotes the proliferation of breast cancer cells.     

CD40／CD40L介导信号的免疫调节作用

Ｂ细胞的ＣＤ４０分子与活化Ｔ细胞的ＣＤ４０配体（ＣＤ４０Ｌ）结合可调节Ｂ细胞生长分化、克隆转换、Ｉｇ分泌、阻断Ｂ细胞凋亡和导Ｆａｓ表面分隔表达等,直接参与调节体液免疫。ＣＤ４０与ＣＤ４０Ｌ结合也影响细胞免疫功能,诱导Ｔｈ１和Ｔｈ２细胞因子产生《ＣＤ４０和ＣＤ４０Ｌ连接ＴＲＡＦ蛋白多聚化,从而调节基因的转录。ＣＤ４０介导的信号传导过程与蛋白酷氨酸酶、蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化有等有关。     

CD40/CD40L信号系统与子痫前期的关系

子痫前期是病理产科中常见的疾病,是导致孕产妇和围生儿死亡的主要原因,其具体病因目前尚未完全阐明,大多数学者认为主要与氧化应激导致的血管内皮细胞损伤,胎盘浅着床,免疫平衡的破坏等因素有关,其中内皮细胞损伤导致的内皮细胞生理功能失衡是其病因学研究的热点.CD40/CD40L是一对互补的肿瘤坏死因子和肿瘤坏子因子受体超家族跨膜糖蛋白,相互作用可以促进内皮细胞、平滑肌细胞表达和释放细胞因子、组织因子、金属蛋白酶、粘附分子,这些物质间接或直接的参与了炎症反应和免疫调节,导致内皮细胞损伤.因此,CD40/CD40L相互作用在炎症反应和免疫失调中亦起着关键作用,可能是子痫前期的病因之一,以CD40/CD40L为靶点为子痫前期的诊断和治疗提供了新的思路和方向.本文拟对CD40/CD40L信号系统与子痫前期的关系做一综述.