CD40 in clinical inflammation: From multiple sclerosis to atherosclerosis

The interactions of CD40 and CD40L have been known for some time to critically regulate B-cell responses with respect to proliferation, isotype switching, antibody production, and memory formation. More recent findings demonstrated that CD40 can be expressed on several other antigen-presenting cell (APC) types such as macrophages, dendritic...

Presentation of αB-crystallin to T cells in active multiple sclerosis lesions: An early event following inflammatory demyelination

In the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), (re)activation of infiltrating T cells by myelin-derived Ags is considered to be a crucial step. Previously, αB-crystallin has been shown to be an important myelin Ag to human T cells. Since αB-crystallin is an intracellular heat shock protein, the question arises at what stage, if any, during...

Therapy with antibodies against CD40L (CD154) and CD44-variant isoforms reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by a proteolipid protein peptide

Interactions between mononuclear cells are required for the formation of inflammatory infiltrates in the CNS and the activation of cellular effector functions provoking demyelination in MS. Membrane-expressed costimulatory molecules are crucial to such interactions. We therefore investigated whether two costimulatory molecules, CD40L (CD154,...

Localization in situ of costimulatory molecules and cytokines in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Costimulatory molecules are essential in cognate interactions between T and B lymphocytes. To study the prerequisites of functional interactions between malignant B cells and intermingled T cells in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHL), we examined the expression of CD40, CD80 and CD86 and their ligands CD40 ligand (CD40L, CD154), CD28 and...

Expression of accessory molecules and cytokines in acute EAE in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)

Accessory molecules and cytokines are involved in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodent models, and are potential targets for immunotherapy. Evaluation of such experimental therapies requires appropriate animal models. Therefore, we analysed the expression of selected...

CD40-CD40L interactions in atherosclerosis

The abundant presence of macrophages and activated T cells in atherosclerotic plaques suggests an active involvement of the immune system in this cardiovascular disease. However, insight into cellular interactions inducing relevant effector functions is still limited. Here, Jon Laman and colleagues propose that local interactions between CD40...