Description
Information: Human CD154 (CD40 Ligand) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family and is expressed on the surface of activated T cells. It can undergo proteolytic cleavage into a 19kD immunologically active soluble form. Interaction of CD154 and CD40 is essential for isotype switching in B cells. Known genetic defects that alter this interaction lead to impaired immune system function (1). Increased levels of CD154 has been associated with autoimmune disorders including SLE, CLL and eosinophilic fasciitis (5,9,10,11). CD154 has been reported to be expressed on vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages and activated platelets indicating a role for the CD40-CD154 immunoregulatory signaling in arthrosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders (7,12,13). Recombinant CD154-muCD8 has been shown to induce phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38 molecules and subsequent activation of NFkB pathway (14, 15). Human CD154-muCD8 binds to cell surface expressed human CD40 and this binding is blocked by anti-human CD154 monoclonal antibody