Expression and Function of Tetraspanins and Their Interacting Partners in B Cells

• Main Authors: Fagui Zou, Xu Wang, Xinxin Han, Gerson Rothschild, Song Guo Zheng, Uttiya Basu, Jianbo Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: tetraspanin; B cell; partner; immune regulation; therapy strategy
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01606/full

Tetraspanins are transmembrane proteins that modulate multiple diverse biological processes, including signal transduction, cell–cell communication, immunoregulation, tumorigenesis, cell adhesion, migration, and growth and differentiation. Here, we provide a systematic review of the involvement of tetraspanins and their partners in the regulation and function of B cells, including mechanisms associated with antigen presentation, antibody production, cytokine secretion, co-stimulator expression, and immunosuppression. Finally, we direct our focus to the signaling mechanisms, evolutionary conservation aspects, expression, and potential therapeutic strategies that could be based on tetraspanins and their interacting partners.