CD137, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, is a type 1 transmembrane protein, expressed on surfaces of leukocytes and non-immune cells. CD137 is only expressed on the cell surface after T cell activation. When T cells are activated by Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), CD137 becomes embedded in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CD137 is a costimulatory molecule functioning to stimulate T cell proliferation, dendritic cell maturation, and promotion of B cell antibody secretion. CD137 is also involved in cancer having been found upregulated in cancerous cell lines. CD137/ligand stimulation has been found to lead to stronger anti-tumor responses due to cytotoxic T cell activation and is being examined as a possible anticancer therapy.
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