LAG-3 inhibits the activation of CD4+ T cells that recognize stable pMHCII through its conformation-dependent recognition of pMHCII

T Maruhashi, I Okazaki, D Sugiura, S Takahashi… - Nature …, 2018 - nature.com
T Maruhashi, I Okazaki, D Sugiura, S Takahashi, TK Maeda, K Shimizu, T Okazaki
Nature immunology, 2018nature.com
The success of tumor immunotherapy targeting the inhibitory co-receptors PD-1 and CTLA-4
has indicated that many other co-receptors might be potential druggable targets, despite
limited information about their functional differences. Here we identified a unique target
selectivity for the inhibitory co-receptor LAG-3 that was intrinsic to its immunoregulatory
roles. Although LAG-3 has been reported to recognize major histocompatibility complex
(MHC) class II, it did not recognize MHC class II universally; instead, we found that it …
Abstract
The success of tumor immunotherapy targeting the inhibitory co-receptors PD-1 and CTLA-4 has indicated that many other co-receptors might be potential druggable targets, despite limited information about their functional differences. Here we identified a unique target selectivity for the inhibitory co-receptor LAG-3 that was intrinsic to its immunoregulatory roles. Although LAG-3 has been reported to recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, it did not recognize MHC class II universally; instead, we found that it selectively recognized stable complexes of peptide and MHC class II (pMHCII). LAG-3 did not directly interfere with interactions between the co-receptor CD4 and MHC class II or between the T cell antigen receptor and MHC class II. Instead, LAG-3 preferentially suppressed T cells responsive to stable pMHCII by transducing inhibitory signals via its intracellular region. Thus, LAG-3 might function more selectively than previously thought and thereby maintain tolerance to dominant autoantigens.
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