Semaphorins in immune cell function, inflammatory and infectious diseases

Abstract

The Semaphorin family is a group of proteins studied broadly for their functions in nervous systems. They consist of eight subfamilies ubiquitously expressed in vertebrates, invertebrates, and viruses and exist in membranebound or secreted forms. Emerging evidence indicates the relevance of semaphorins outside the nervous system, including angiogenesis, cardiogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, tumour progression, and, more recently, the immune system. This review provides a broad overview of current knowledge on the role of semaphorins in the immune system, particularly its involvement in inflammatory and infectious diseases, including chlamydial infections.