Induction, binding specificity and function of human ICOS

Recently, we have identified the inducible co-stimulator (ICOS), an activat ion-dependent, T cell-specific cell surface molecule related to CD28 and CT LA-4. Detailed analysis of human ICOS presented here shows that it is a 55- 60-kDa homodimer with differently N-glycosylated subunits of 27 and 29 kDa. ICOS requires both phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for full induction, and is sensitive to Cyclosporin A. ICOS is upregulated early on all T cells, including the CD28(-) subset, and continues to be expressed in to later phases of T cell activation. On stimulation of T cells by antigen- presenting cells, the CD28/B7, but not the CD40 ligand/CD40 pathway is crit ically involved in the induction of ICOS. ICOS does not bind to B7-1 or B7- 2, and CD28 does not bind to ICOS ligand; thus the CD28 and ICOS pathways d o not cross-interact on the cell surface. In vivo, ICOS is expressed in the medulla of the fetal and newborn thymus, in the T cell zones of tonsils an d lymph nodes, and in the apical light zones of germinal centers (predomina nt expression). Functionally, ICOS co-induces a variety of cytokines includ ing IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, lFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, but not IL-2, and super induces IL-10. Furthermore, ICOS co-stimulation prevents the apoptosis of p re-activated T cells. The human ICOS gene maps to chromosome 2q33-34.