Open AccessRegulation of immune cell responses by semaphorins and their receptors
Author(s) -
Hyota Takamatsu,
Tatsusada Okuno,
Atsushi Kumanogoh
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cellular and molecular immunology/cellular and molecular immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.5
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 2042-0226
pISSN - 1672-7681
DOI - 10.1038/cmi.2009.111
Subject(s) - semaphorin , immune system , axon guidance , biology , receptor , plexin , neuroscience , immune receptor , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , axon , genetics
Semaphorins were originally identified as axon guidance factors involved in the development of the neuronal system. However, accumulating evidence indicates that several members of semaphorins, so-called 'immune semaphorins', are crucially involved in various phases of immune responses. These semaphorins regulate both immune cell interactions and immune cell trafficking during physiological and pathological immune responses. Here, we review the following two functional aspects of semaphorins and their receptors in immune responses: their functions in cell-cell interactions and their involvement in immune cell trafficking.