B7 (protein)
B7 is a type of peripheral membrane protein found on activated antigen presenting cells (APC) that, when paired with either a CD28 or CD152 (CTLA-4) surface protein on a T cell, can produce a costimulatory signal or a coinhibitory signal to enhance or decrease the activity of a MHC-TCR signal between the APC and the T cell, respectively. Binding of the B7 of APC to CTLA-4 of T-cells causes inhibition of the activity of T-cells.
There are two major types of B7 proteins: B7-1 or CD80, and B7-2 or CD86. However, it is not known if they differ significantly from each other. CD28 and CTLA-4 each interact with both B7-1 and B7-2.
Costimulation
There are several steps to activation of the immune system against a pathogen. The T cell receptor must first interact with the Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) surface protein. The CD4 or CD8 proteins on the T-cell surface form a complex with the CD3 protein, which can then recognize the MHC. This is also called "Signal 1" and its main purpose is to guarantee antigen specificity of the T cell activation.
However, MHC binding itself is insufficient for producing a T cell response. In fact, lack of further stimulatory signals sends the T cell into anergy. The costimulatory signal necessary to continue the immune response can come from B7-CD28 and CD40-CD40L interactions. There are other activation signals which play a role in immune responses. In the TNF family of molecules, the protein 4-1BB (CD137) on the T cell may bind to 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) on the APC.
The B7 (B7-1/B7-2) protein is present on the APC surface, and it interacts with the CD28 receptor on the T cell surface. This is one source of "Signal 2" (cytokines can also contribute to T-cell activation, called "Signal 3"). This interaction produces a series of downstream signals which promote the target T cell's survival and activation.
Blockade of CD28 is effective in stopping T cell activation, a mechanism that the immune system uses to down-regulate T cell activation. T cells can express the surface protein CTLA-4 (CD152) as well, which can also bind B7, but with twenty times greater affinity for B7 proteins, and lacks the ability to activate T cells. As a result, the T cell is blocked from receiving the B7 protein signal and is not activated. CTLA-4-knockout mice are unable to stop immune responses, and develop a fatal massive lymphocyte proliferation.
Members of the family
Apart from B7-1 and B7-2, there are other proteins grouped in the B7 family, as summarized in the following table.
| Name | Alternative names | Binds to |
|---|---|---|
| B7-1 | CD80 | CD28, CTLA-4, PD-L1 |
| B7-2 | CD86 | CD28, CTLA-4 |
| B7-DC | PDCD1LG2, PD-L2, CD273 | PD-1 |
| B7-H1 | PD-L1, CD274 | PD-1 |
| B7-H2 | ICOSLG, B7RP1, CD275 | ICOS |
| B7-H3 | CD276 | |
| B7-H4 | VTCN1 | |
| B7-H5 | VISTA, Platelet receptor Gi24, SISP1 | |
| B7-H6 | NCR3LG1 | NKp30 |
| B7-H7 | HHLA2 | CD28H |