CTLA-4
CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4, also known as CD152) is an inhibitory receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily that acts as a major negative regulator of T-cell responses. It transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells and competes with CD28 for B7 family ligands. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CTLA-4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CTLA-4 is an inhibitory receptor and a major negative regulator of T-cell responses. It works in part as a decoy receptor: its affinity for the natural B7 family ligands, CD80 and CD86, is considerably stronger than that of the stimulatory coreceptor CD28. By binding these ligands more tightly, CTLA-4 transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells and limits the stimulation that CD28 would otherwise provide. This makes the CTLA-4 protein a central subject in studies of immune checkpoints and T-cell tolerance.
The CTLA4 gene belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is classed by HGNC among the CD molecules and V-set domain containing genes. The encoded protein contains a V domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail, and it is found at the cell membrane. Alternative transcriptional splice variants encode different isoforms. The membrane-bound isoform functions as a homodimer linked by a disulfide bond, whereas the soluble isoform functions as a monomer. A mouse ortholog, Ctla4, is recognised.
The gene has carried several names reflecting its disease associations, including celiac disease 3 (CELIAC3) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus 12 (IDDM12), alongside the CD152 designation. Mutations in the CTLA4 gene have been associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid-associated orbitopathy and other autoimmune diseases, which is why CTLA-4 is widely studied in autoimmunity research.
CTLA-4 is an inhibitory receptor and major negative regulator of T-cell responses, making it a core subject for studying checkpoint signalling.
CTLA-4 binds CD80 and CD86 more strongly than CD28 does, so it is used to examine competition for B7 ligands.
Mutations in the CTLA4 gene are linked to type 1 diabetes, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, coeliac disease and lupus.
Membrane-bound CTLA-4 acts as a disulfide-linked homodimer and the soluble isoform as a monomer, prompting work on isoform function.
CTLA-4 is an inhibitory receptor that acts as a major negative regulator of T-cell responses. It also acts as a decoy receptor, binding the B7 family ligands CD80 and CD86 with considerably higher affinity than the stimulatory coreceptor CD28 and so transmitting an inhibitory signal to T cells.
CTLA-4 is also called CD152, with the gene symbol CTLA4 and earlier names including CELIAC3 and IDDM12. Splice variants encode different isoforms: the membrane-bound form functions as a disulfide-linked homodimer, while the soluble form functions as a monomer.
Mutations in the CTLA4 gene are associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and thyroid-associated orbitopathy. The mouse ortholog is Ctla4; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Ligands, the stimulatory coreceptor and other immune checkpoint targets related to CTLA-4 signalling.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P16410; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.