Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (11): 2387-2388.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.371357

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CD137L, a driver of harmful inflammation in the nervous system

Hiu Yi Wong, Amanda C.Y. Chan, Anselm Mak, Herbert Schwarz*   

  1. Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Wong HY)
    Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Wong HY)
    Division of Neurology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore (Chan ACY)
    Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore (Chan ACY)
    Division of Rheumatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National Univesity of Singapore, Singapore (Mak A)
    Department of Physiology, and Immunology Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore (Chan ACY, Schwarz H)
    Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore, Singapore (Schwarz H) 
  • Online:2023-11-15 Published:2023-05-04
  • Contact: Herbert Schwarz, PhD, phssh@nus.edu.sg.

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Abstract: CD137 (TNFRSF9, 4-1BB) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family and a potent costimulatory molecule. High levels of CD137 are expressed on T cells upon activation. CD137 signaling in T cells, either by cognate interaction with antigen-presenting cells (APC) or by agonistic anti-CD137 antibodies, strongly enhances proliferation, interferon-γ secretion, and cytolytic activity of T cells. Thus, CD137 signaling is a main driver of cellular, type 1 helper T cells (Th1) and type 1 cytolytic T cells (Tc1) polarised immune responses. CD137 costimulation enables the immune system to eliminate tumors as shown in a wide plethora of murine tumor models. Agonistic antibodies against human CD137 currently prove to be effective in clinical cancer therapy trials (Dharmadhikari et al., 2016).