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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients
Published on: August 12, 2017
Novel roles of OX40 in the allograft response
Gulcin Demirci1, Xian Chang Li
1Transplant Research Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
In the past few years, much effort has been focused on the identification of new pathways, new mechanisms, and new therapeutic targets in transplant models. Understanding of T-cell costimulatory molecules remains one of the highly contested areas of research. In this review, we will focus specifically on OX40, and summarize the latest developments on the role of OX40 in transplant models.
Recent Findings:
OX40 regulates multiple aspects of the T-cell response; it delivers a potent costimulatory signal to T effector cells and plays a key role in their survival and proliferation. OX40 also supports the transition of activated T effector cells to memory T cells. Importantly, OX40 signaling inhibits the suppressor functions of forkhead box P3 T regulatory cells and also blocks the induction of new forkhead box P3 T regulatory cells from activated T effector cells. These new findings may have major clinical implications in the induction of transplant tolerance.
Summary:
The current belief is that tolerance to organ transplants involves the apoptotic deletion of T effector cells and the expansion of graft-protective T regulatory cells. Given our recent understanding of OX40, we believe that targeting the OX40 costimulation is therapeutically important in the induction of transplant tolerance.
Insights
Targeting OX40 costimulation is crucial for inducing transplant tolerance. This involves modulating T-cell responses and enhancing graft protection by regulating T effector and T regulatory cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Biology
Background:
- Research in transplant models focuses on identifying new therapeutic targets.
- T-cell costimulatory molecules are a key area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- This review summarizes the role of OX40 in transplant models.
- Focuses on the latest developments regarding OX40's function.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on OX40 in transplantation.
- Analysis of OX40's effects on T-cell subsets and regulatory cells.
Main Results:
- OX40 enhances T-cell survival, proliferation, and memory formation.
- OX40 signaling inhibits forkhead box P3 T regulatory cell function and induction.
- These findings have implications for inducing transplant tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Transplant tolerance involves T-effector cell deletion and T-regulatory cell expansion.
- Targeting OX40 costimulation is a promising therapeutic strategy for transplant tolerance.
