Description
Product Characteristics: CD40 is a costimulatory molecule of the TNF receptor superfamily and is expressed on many cell types, such as B cells, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts or vascular smooth muscle cells. Interaction of CD40 and its ligand CD154 (CD40L) is required for the generation of antibody responses to T-dependent antigens as well as for the development of germinal centers and memory B cells. In monocytes/macrophages CD40 engagement induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. CD40-CD154 interactions are also critical for development of CD4 T cell-dependent effector functions. CD40 links innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial stimuli and serves as an important regulator affecting functions of other costimulatory molecules.
Target Information: The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily. This receptor has been found to be essential in mediating a broad variety of immune and inflammatory responses including T cell-dependent immunoglobulin class switching, memory B cell development, and germinal center formation. AT-hook transcription factor AKNA is reported to coordinately regulate the expression of this receptor and its ligand, which may be important for homotypic cell interactions. Adaptor protein TNFR2 interacts with this receptor and serves as a mediator of the signal transduction. The interaction of this receptor and its ligand is found to be necessary for amyloid-beta-induced microglial activation, and thus is thought to be an early event in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]