Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Cells. 2024 Mar 28;13(7):587. doi: 10.3390/cells13070587.
The transmembrane glycoprotein OX40 receptor (OX40) and its ligand, OX40L, are instrumental modulators of the adaptive immune response in humans. OX40 functions as a costimulatory molecule that promotes T cell activation, differentiation, and survival through ligation with OX40L. T cells play an integral role in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD). In particular, T helper 2 (T2) cells strongly contribute to AD pathogenesis via the production of cytokines associated with type 2 inflammation (e.g., IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31) that lead to skin barrier dysfunction and pruritus. The OX40-OX40L interaction also promotes the activation and proliferation of other T helper cell populations (e.g., T1, T22, and T17), and AD patients have demonstrated higher levels of OX40 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells than healthy controls. As such, the OX40-OX40L pathway is a potential target for AD treatment. Novel therapies targeting the OX40 pathway are currently in development, several of which have demonstrated promising safety and efficacy results in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Herein, we review the function of OX40 and the OX40-OX40L signaling pathway, their role in AD pathogenesis, and emerging therapies targeting OX40-OX40L that may offer insights into the future of AD management.
跨膜糖蛋白 OX40 受体(OX40)及其配体 OX40L 是人类适应性免疫反应的重要调节因子。OX40 作为一种共刺激分子,通过与 OX40L 的结合促进 T 细胞的激活、分化和存活。T 细胞在多种炎症性皮肤疾病的发病机制中发挥着重要作用,包括特应性皮炎(AD)。特别是,辅助性 T 细胞 2(T2)通过产生与 2 型炎症相关的细胞因子(例如 IL-4、IL-5、IL-13 和 IL-31)强烈促进 AD 的发病机制,导致皮肤屏障功能障碍和瘙痒。OX40-OX40L 相互作用还促进了其他 T 辅助细胞群(如 T1、T22 和 T17)的激活和增殖,AD 患者外周血单核细胞上的 OX40 表达水平高于健康对照者。因此,OX40-OX40L 途径是 AD 治疗的潜在靶点。目前正在开发针对 OX40 途径的新型疗法,其中几种在中重度 AD 患者中显示出有希望的安全性和疗效结果。在此,我们综述了 OX40 的功能及其 OX40-OX40L 信号通路、它们在 AD 发病机制中的作用以及针对 OX40-OX40L 的新兴疗法,这些可能为 AD 管理的未来提供一些思路。