Characterization of B7S3 as a Novel Negative Regulator of T Cells

T cell activation by APCs is regulated by B7-like costimulatory molecules. In this study, we describe a new B7 superfamily member, B7S3, with two differentially spliced isoforms expressed in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. A soluble B7S3-Ig protein bound to professional APC constitutively as well as to activated but not naive T cells. B7S3-Ig treatment greatly inhibited T cell proliferation and IL-2 production. B7S3-Ig also reduced cytokine production by effector T cells. Interestingly, although human genome appears to contain a single-copy B7S3 homolog, the mouse B7S3 gene has 10 relatives within a 2-Mb region constituting a B7S3 gene family. This study identifies B7S3 as a novel negative regulator of T cells, and suggests evolutionarily divergent T cell regulation mechanisms in mammals.