CD154: An Immunoinflammatory Mediator in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Figure 1

Biological function of the CD154/CD40 interaction. CD154 mediates numerous inflammatory functions on a wide variety of cell types by interacting with its classical CD40 receptor. These include T cell priming, B cell-dependent Ig class switching and germinal center formation, cell proliferation, regulation of apoptosis, release of proinflammatory cytokines, upregulation of adhesion molecules and costimulatory molecules, and production of cytotoxic radicals. FB: fibroblast, EC: endothelial cell, APC: antigen presenting cells, DC: dendritic cell, MC/Mac: monocyte/macrophage.