Abstract

Co-signalling molecules are cell-surface glycoproteins that can direct, modulate and fine-tune T-cell receptor (TCR) signals. On the basis of their functional outcome, co-signalling molecules can be divided into co-stimulators and co-inhibitors, which promote or suppress T-cell activation, respectively. By expression at the appropriate time and location, co-signalling molecules positively and negatively control the priming, growth, differentiation and functional maturation of a T-cell response. We are now beginning to understand the power of co-inhibitors in the context of lymphocyte homeostasis and the pathogenesis of human diseases. In this article, I focus on several newly described co-inhibitory pathways in the B7–CD28 family.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Dermatology, Department of Oncology and Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
   Email: lchen42@jhmi.edu

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