LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications

To prevent the destruction of tissues owing to excessive and/or inappropriate immune responses, immune cells are under strict check by various regulatory mechanisms at multiple points. Inhibitory coreceptors, including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), ser...

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Main Authors: Takumi Maruhashi, Daisuke Sugiura, Il-mi Okazaki, Taku Okazaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-10-01
Series:Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
Online Access:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001014.full
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author Takumi Maruhashi
Daisuke Sugiura
Il-mi Okazaki
Taku Okazaki
author_facet Takumi Maruhashi
Daisuke Sugiura
Il-mi Okazaki
Taku Okazaki
author_sort Takumi Maruhashi
collection DOAJ
description To prevent the destruction of tissues owing to excessive and/or inappropriate immune responses, immune cells are under strict check by various regulatory mechanisms at multiple points. Inhibitory coreceptors, including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), serve as critical checkpoints in restricting immune responses against self-tissues and tumor cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors that block PD-1 and CTLA-4 pathways significantly improved the outcomes of patients with diverse cancer types and have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, response rates to such therapies are rather limited, and immune-related adverse events are also observed in a substantial patient population, leading to the urgent need for novel therapeutics with higher efficacy and lower toxicity. In addition to PD-1 and CTLA-4, a variety of stimulatory and inhibitory coreceptors are involved in the regulation of T cell activation. Such coreceptors are listed as potential drug targets, and the competition to develop novel immunotherapies targeting these coreceptors has been very fierce. Among such coreceptors, lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is expected as the foremost target next to PD-1 in the development of cancer therapy, and multiple clinical trials testing the efficacy of LAG-3-targeted therapy are underway. LAG-3 is a type I transmembrane protein with structural similarities to CD4. Accumulating evidence indicates that LAG-3 is an inhibitory coreceptor and plays pivotal roles in autoimmunity, tumor immunity, and anti-infection immunity. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of LAG-3, ranging from its discovery to clinical application.
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spelling doaj-art-950de31b1ac94cbfa1aec9f714d117d72025-08-20T02:13:19ZengBMJ Publishing GroupJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer2051-14262020-10-018210.1136/jitc-2020-001014LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applicationsTakumi Maruhashi0Daisuke Sugiura1Il-mi Okazaki2Taku Okazaki3Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanLaboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanTo prevent the destruction of tissues owing to excessive and/or inappropriate immune responses, immune cells are under strict check by various regulatory mechanisms at multiple points. Inhibitory coreceptors, including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), serve as critical checkpoints in restricting immune responses against self-tissues and tumor cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors that block PD-1 and CTLA-4 pathways significantly improved the outcomes of patients with diverse cancer types and have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, response rates to such therapies are rather limited, and immune-related adverse events are also observed in a substantial patient population, leading to the urgent need for novel therapeutics with higher efficacy and lower toxicity. In addition to PD-1 and CTLA-4, a variety of stimulatory and inhibitory coreceptors are involved in the regulation of T cell activation. Such coreceptors are listed as potential drug targets, and the competition to develop novel immunotherapies targeting these coreceptors has been very fierce. Among such coreceptors, lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is expected as the foremost target next to PD-1 in the development of cancer therapy, and multiple clinical trials testing the efficacy of LAG-3-targeted therapy are underway. LAG-3 is a type I transmembrane protein with structural similarities to CD4. Accumulating evidence indicates that LAG-3 is an inhibitory coreceptor and plays pivotal roles in autoimmunity, tumor immunity, and anti-infection immunity. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of LAG-3, ranging from its discovery to clinical application.https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001014.full
spellingShingle Takumi Maruhashi
Daisuke Sugiura
Il-mi Okazaki
Taku Okazaki
LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer
title LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
title_full LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
title_fullStr LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
title_full_unstemmed LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
title_short LAG-3: from molecular functions to clinical applications
title_sort lag 3 from molecular functions to clinical applications
url https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001014.full
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AT ilmiokazaki lag3frommolecularfunctionstoclinicalapplications
AT takuokazaki lag3frommolecularfunctionstoclinicalapplications