Is it wise to target the late costimulatory molecule OX40 as a therapeutic target?

• Authors: M.M. Cavanagh , T. Hussell
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The immune response triggered following pathogen recognition, though required to clear the infection, can be detrimental if it is produced in excess or fails to resolve promptly. Excessive inflammation contributes to infectious and noninfectious pathologies in the gut (such as inflammatory bowel disease), lung (such as bronchiolitis), and in a variety of autoimmune conditions. T cells contribute significantly to pathology during inflammation. Global anti-inflammatory strategies can alleviate the consequences of exuberant inflammation by suppressing T cell activity, but may leave the patient vulnerable to opportunistic infection. More specific therapies aim to suppress only those T cells involved in the disease process, and one such approach is to target late costimulatory molecules. These are not expressed on na?ve or resting memory cells. Rather, they have a specific window of expression and their ligation results in the production of abundant inflammatory cytokines. By targeting these molecules, it is hoped that inflammation will reduce, but that therapies will be specific enough to avoid, global immune suppression. This review focuses on the late costimulatory molecule OX40, compare it with other T cell costimulators, and highlight why it is a more suitable target for immune intervention than other immune suppressive strategies.

Keywords

EN

AUTOIMMUNITY; COSTIMULATORY MOLECULE; IMMUNOPATHOLOGY; INFECTION

Discipline

• IMMUNOLOGY: IMMUNOLOGY

• Publisher: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 291-297

Contributors

author

M.M. Cavanagh

author

T. Hussell

• Document Type: REVIEW
• Publication order reference: Tracy Hussell, Imperial College London, National Heart and Lung Institute, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK