Recent Advance in GITR/GITRL Signaling Pathway and Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a global respiratory allergic disease, with the rising incidence of bronchial asthma in children. It has seriously affected children's growth and mental health, and even may be life-threatening. But its pathogenesis has not fully elucidated so far, and the traditional view is that the disorder of Th1/Th2 balance plays an important role in the onset of asthma. But with the study of other T cell subsets besides Th1 and Th2, we gradually find that there exists a close relationgship between CD4 + CD25 + Regulatory T cell (Treg) and asthma. Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) is one member of Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, and is highly expressed in CD4 + CD25 + Treg. When combining with its ligand GITRL (Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor ligand). They can not only enhance the activation and proliferation of T cell, enhance the effect of MAPKs and NF-κB, but also inhibit the function of CD4 + CD25 + Treg cells. GITR/GITRL signal is beneficial to antitumor immune and antiviral immunity and plays a complex role in the regulation of the immune system.