CTLA-4

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Structure of murine CTLA4 (CD152)
CTLA4 molecule
Identifiers
Symbol(s)	CD152
Entrez	1493
OMIM	123890
RefSeq	[1]
UniProt	P10747
PDB	1DQT
Other data
Locus	Chr. 2 q33

CTLA4 (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4) is a CD28-family receptor expressed on mainly CD4+ T cells. It binds the same ligands as CD28 (CD80 and CD86 on B cells and dendritic cells), but with higher affinity than CD28. However, in contrast to CD28 which enhances cell function when bound at the same time as the T cell receptor, CTLA4 inhbits the T cell and prevents it from functioning. Intracellular CTLA4 is also found in regulatory T cells and may be important to their function.

The comparatively higher binding affinity of CTLA4 has made it a potential therapy for autoimmune diseases. Fusion proteins of CTLA4 and antibodies (CTLA4-Ig) have been used in clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis[2].