嗜乳脂蛋白家族研究进展——超越乳脂球膜到调节免疫

Advances in the butyrophilin gene family——from milk fat globules to the regulation of the immune response

嗜乳脂蛋白(butyrophilin,BTN)最初发现于乳脂球膜,是免疫球蛋白超家族的受体蛋白,其胞外段与免疫检查点B7蛋白家族同源,因而受到免疫学家的关注。近年来,有研究发现BTN参与调控天然和获得性T细胞免疫反应,尤其是该家族成员BTN3A1(CD277)具有活化Vγ9Vδ2 T细胞的功能,可能是免疫检查点的新靶点。现对BTN家族的发现、命名、结构及其对T细胞的免疫调节作用进行综述。

Butyrophilin(BTN)was first discovered in the milk globule membrane and belongs to immunoglobulin superfamily receptor proteins.The extracellular domain of BTN is homologous to the B7 family,and has attracted the attention of the immunologists.Recently,it was found that BTN is involved in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity.Most of all,the family member BTN3A1(CD277)is engaged in the Vγ9Vδ2 T cells activation and regarded as a novel target for immune check-point.Here,we reviewed the discovery,nomenclature,structure of the BTN proteins and their regulatory effects on T cells.