Characterisation of soluble murine CD137 and its association with systemic lupus

Mol Immunol. 2008 Sep;45(15):3990-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.05.028. Epub 2008 Jul 21.

Abstract

CD137 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, and is involved in the regulation of activation, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of T cells, B cells, monocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells and granulocytes. Here report that soluble forms of murine CD137 (sCD137) are generated by differential splicing and are released by activated T cells. Levels of sCD137 correlate with cell activation and the extent of cell death but not with cellular proliferation. While CD8+ T cells express significantly more cell surface CD137 than CD4+ T cells, both T cell subsets express similar levels of sCD137, resulting a twofold increased ratio of soluble to cell surface CD137 for CD4+ T cells. sCD137 exists as a trimer and a higher order multimer, can bind to CD137 ligand, and inhibits secretion of IL-10 and IL-12. sCD137 is present in sera of mice with autoimmune disease but is undetectable in sera of healthy mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-1BB Ligand / immunology
  • 4-1BB Ligand / metabolism
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / immunology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-12 / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / blood
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9 / immunology

Substances

  • 4-1BB Ligand
  • Tnfsf9 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-12