Tetraspanins are a superfamily of integral membrane proteins involved in the organization of microdomains that consist of both cell membrane proteins and cytoplasmic signalling molecules. These microdomains are important in regulating molecular recognition at the cell surface and subsequent signal transduction processes central to the generation of an efficient immune response. Tetraspanins, both immune-cell-specific, such as CD37, and ubiquitously expressed, such as CD81, have been shown to be imp-ortant in both innate and adaptive cellular immunity. This is via their molecular interaction with important immune cell-surface molecules such as antigen-presenting MHC proteins, T-cell co-receptors CD4 and CD8, as well as cytoplasmic molecules such as Lck and PKC (protein kinase C). Moreover, the generation of tetraspanin-deficient mice has enabled the study of these proteins in immunity. A variety of tetraspanins have a role in the regulation of pattern recognition, antigen presentation and T-cell proliferation. Recent studies have also begun to elucidate roles for tetraspanins in macrophages, NK cells (natural killer cells) and granulocytes.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2011
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
March 22 2011
Tetraspanins in cellular immunity
Eleanor Livingston Jones;
Eleanor Livingston Jones
1
1Leucocyte Membrane Protein Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Maria C. Demaria;
Maria C. Demaria
1
1Leucocyte Membrane Protein Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Mark D. Wright
Mark D. Wright
2
1Leucocyte Membrane Protein Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
2To whom correspondence should be addressed (email Mark.Wright@monash.edu).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 31 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (2): 506–511.
Article history
Received:
August 31 2010
Citation
Eleanor Livingston Jones, Maria C. Demaria, Mark D. Wright; Tetraspanins in cellular immunity. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2011; 39 (2): 506–511. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390506
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.