Current understanding of CTLA-4: from mechanism to autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by the production of autoreactive lymphocytes, immune responses to self-antigens, and inflammation in related tissues organs. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is majorly expressed activated T cells works as a critical regulator inflammatory response. In this review, we first describe structure, expression, how signaling pathways CTLA-4 participate reducing effector T-cell activity enhancing immunomodulatory ability regulatory (Treg) reduce response, maintain homeostasis, autoimmune silence. We then focused on correlation between different ADs molecule regulates inhibits onset, progression, pathology various ADs. Finally, summarized current progress therapeutic target for