Tetraspanins are small (20-50 kDa) integral membrane proteins with four transmembrane domains that have an intrinsic propensity to associate with other membrane proteins and lipids giving rise to the formation of specific tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs), also referred to as “The tetraspanin web”. In mammals, the tetraspanin family comprises of 33 different members, with the majority of the members being abundantly expressed in almost all cell types, including leukocytes which are responsible for innate and adaptive immunity as well as in other cells that play pivotal roles in immune responses, such as endothelial or stromal cells,. Therefore, through the wide range of specific molecular interactions in which they are engaged, tetraspanins influence many processes of up-most relevance in the development, physiology and pathology of the immune system, including the control of immune cell morphology, signaling, adhesion, migration, invasion, fusion, infections and cancer.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevance of different tetraspanins in the biology of the different cell types that participate in the orchestration of an effective immune response, as well as their involvement in deregulated processes that underlie a variety of pathological immune disorders.
For this Research Topic, we invite the submission of Mini-Reviews, Reviews and Original Research articles covering, but not restricted to, the following topics:
1. Tetraspanins in the biology of DCs and other professional antigen presenting cells.
2. Tetraspanins in the biology of T, B, and NK lymphocytes.
3. Tetraspanins in the biology of myeloid cells, erythrocytes and platelets.
4. Tetraspanins in B, T and myeloid cell malignancies.
5. Immuno-therapeutic potential of tetraspanins and vaccines.
6. Tetraspanins in viral, fungal, bacterial and parasite infections.
7. Tetraspanins in anti-tumoral immunity.
8. Tetraspanins as regulators of protein shedding and cytokine signaling.
Tetraspanins are small (20-50 kDa) integral membrane proteins with four transmembrane domains that have an intrinsic propensity to associate with other membrane proteins and lipids giving rise to the formation of specific tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs), also referred to as “The tetraspanin web”. In mammals, the tetraspanin family comprises of 33 different members, with the majority of the members being abundantly expressed in almost all cell types, including leukocytes which are responsible for innate and adaptive immunity as well as in other cells that play pivotal roles in immune responses, such as endothelial or stromal cells,. Therefore, through the wide range of specific molecular interactions in which they are engaged, tetraspanins influence many processes of up-most relevance in the development, physiology and pathology of the immune system, including the control of immune cell morphology, signaling, adhesion, migration, invasion, fusion, infections and cancer.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevance of different tetraspanins in the biology of the different cell types that participate in the orchestration of an effective immune response, as well as their involvement in deregulated processes that underlie a variety of pathological immune disorders.
For this Research Topic, we invite the submission of Mini-Reviews, Reviews and Original Research articles covering, but not restricted to, the following topics:
1. Tetraspanins in the biology of DCs and other professional antigen presenting cells.
2. Tetraspanins in the biology of T, B, and NK lymphocytes.
3. Tetraspanins in the biology of myeloid cells, erythrocytes and platelets.
4. Tetraspanins in B, T and myeloid cell malignancies.
5. Immuno-therapeutic potential of tetraspanins and vaccines.
6. Tetraspanins in viral, fungal, bacterial and parasite infections.
7. Tetraspanins in anti-tumoral immunity.
8. Tetraspanins as regulators of protein shedding and cytokine signaling.
