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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Functional Characterization of Regulatory Macrophages That Inhibit Graft-reactive Immunity
Published on: June 7, 2017
GRAIL: a unique mediator of CD4 T-lymphocyte unresponsiveness
Chan C Whiting1, Leon L Su, Jack T Lin
1Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
GRAIL (gene related to anergy in lymphocytes, also known as RNF128), an ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3), utilizes a unique single transmembrane protein with a split-function motif, and is an important gatekeeper of T-cell unresponsiveness. Although it may play a role in other CD4 T-cell functions including activation, survival and differentiation, GRAIL is most well characterized as a negative regulator of T-cell receptor responsiveness and cytokine production. Here, we review the recent literature on this remarkable E3 in the regulation of human and mouse CD4 T-cell unresponsiveness.
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