ROLE OF CD137-CD137L INTERACTION IN MICROGLIA-MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE

Abstract

IT HAS BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED THAT CD137 LIGAND (CD137L) IS EXPRESSED ON ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELLS (APCS). IN LINE WITH THIS OBSERVATION, OUR GROUP HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE EXPRESSION OF CD137L ON MICROGLIA, THE RESIDENT APC IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS), AND ITS ABILITY TO INDUCE MICROGLIA ACTIVATION UPON CROSS-LINKAGE. GIVEN MICROGLIA?S STATUS AS THE PRIMARY IMMUNE CELL IN THE CNS, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT CD137L-MEDIATED MICROGLIA ACTIVATION PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN NEUROINFLAMMATION. IN THIS STUDY, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CD137-EXPRESSING NEURONS AS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL INTERACTING PARTNERS OF CD137L-EXPRESSING MICROGLIA WITHIN THE CNS. WE HAVE ALSO DEMONSTRATED THE UPREGULATION OF NEURONAL CD137 EXPRESSION UNDER PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. ASIDE FROM THAT, WE UNRAVELLED SEVERAL MECHANISMS MEDIATING CD137L-MEDIATED MICROGLIA ACTIVATION. THE DATA REPORTED REVEAL THE SUBSTANTIAL ROLE THAT CD137-CD137L INTERACTION PLAYS IN MEDIATING MICROGLIA INVOLVEMENT IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF NEURO