OX40 belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and its expression is restricted to activated T-cells. Ligation of OX40 during T-cell-dendritic cell interaction is crucial for clonal expansion of antigen-specific T-cells and generation of T-cell memory. Recent studies with animal models have indicated the critical involvement of OX40 in the pathogenesis of a variety of immunologic abnormalities of inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, allergic, and allotransplantation-related diseases. Blockade of OX40-OX40L（The ligand of OX40） interaction has been shown to prevent, cure, or ameliorate these diseases. In contrast, activation of OX40 is known to break an existing state of tolerance in malignancies, leading to a reactivation of antitumor immunity. These findings clearly suggest that the OX40/OX40L system is one of the most promising targets of immune intervention for treatment of these diseases.
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