A Yin and Yang in Epithelial Immunology: The Roles of the alpha(E)(CD103) beta(7) Integrin in T Cells

Abstract

The proper function(s) of cell-surface receptors is crucial for the regulation of adaptive immune responses. One such receptor is the alpha(E)(CD103) beta(7) integrin, whose history in science is closely linked with the evolution of our knowledge of immune regulation. Initially described as a marker of intra-epithelial T-lymphocytes, this leukocyte integrin is now seen as a dynamically regulated receptor involved in the functional differentiation of some cytotoxic T cells as well as regulatory T cells, thus presumably contributing to the fine-tuning of immune reactions in epithelial compartments. In this brief overview, we delineate our current view on alpha(E)(CD103) beta(7) in T-cell-mediated immune responses.