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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Myeloid Innate Signaling Pathway Regulation by MALT1 Paracaspase Activity
Published on: January 7, 2019
The function of programmed cell death 1 and its ligands in regulating autoimmunity and infection
Arlene H Sharpe1, E John Wherry, Rafi Ahmed
1Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. arlene_sharpe@hms.harvard.edu
Abstract:
The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) surface receptor binds to two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. Studies have shown that PD-1-PD-L interactions control the induction and maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance and indicate a previously unknown function for PD-L1 on nonhematopoietic cells in protecting tissues from autoimmune attack. PD-1 and its ligands have also been exploited by a variety of microorganisms to attenuate antimicrobial immunity and facilitate chronic infection. Here we examine the functions of PD-1 and its ligands in regulating antimicrobial and self-reactive T cell responses and discuss the therapeutic potential of manipulating this pathway.
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