CD40, also known as TNFRSF5, is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily which are single transmembrane-spanning glycoproteins. CD40 protein plays an essential role in mediating a broad variety of immune and inflammatory responses including T cell-dependent immunoglobulin class switching, memory B cell development, and germinal center formation. CD40 protein is expressed in B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and several tumor cell lines. Defects in CD40 result in hyper-IgM immunodeficiency type 3 (HIGM3). In addition, CD40/CD40L interaction is found to be necessary for amyloid-beta-induced microglial activation, and thus is thought to be an early event in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis.
