Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Myeloid Innate Signaling Pathway Regulation by MALT1 Paracaspase Activity
Published on: January 7, 2019
Consequence of the SLAM-SAP signaling pathway in innate-like and conventional lymphocytes
André Veillette1, Zhongjun Dong, Sylvain Latour
1Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2W 1R7. veillea@ircm.qc.ca
Abstract:
Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family receptors mediate important regulatory signals in immune cells, as a result of their exquisite ability to associate with members of the SLAM-associated protein (SAP) family of adaptors. As discussed herein, recent findings show that the SLAM and SAP families carry out pivotal functions in innate-like and conventional lymphocytes. They are critically needed for the development of innate-like lymphocytes such as NKT cells. In addition, they influence several of the functions of conventional lymphocytes, including the ability of CD4(+) T cells to secrete certain cytokines and mediate B cell help; CD8(+) T cell proliferation and cytokine production; NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity; and B cell antibody production. These unique functional properties appear to be facilitated by the ability of SLAM-related receptors to serve as self-ligands during homotypic interactions between immune cells. The importance of the SLAM-SAP pathway in normal immunity is highlighted by the finding that SAP is mutated in humans suffering from the immunodeficiency X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.
Related Concept Videos
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Intracellular Signaling Cascades
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...

