Roles of the semaphorin family in immune regulation

The immune system and the nervous system have distinct roles in maintaining physiological homeostasis. These independent systems, however, influence each other while sharing common resources, including the cytokines and members of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Semaphorins are one of these shared molecular families that are biologically active in both systems. Although semaphorins were originally identified as axon guidance factors functioning in the nervous system, recent studies have uncovered additional immunological functions. For example, ligand-receptor systems distinct from those characterized in the nervous system govern class IV semaphorin, CD100/Sema4D and Sema4A, activity in immune responses. This review provides an overview of the currently emerging immunoregulatory functions of "Immuno-semaphorins".