Lymphotoxin beta

Lymphotoxin beta is a type II membrane protein from the TNF family. It anchors lymphotoxin-alpha to the cell surface by forming heterotrimers. The predominant form on the lymphocyte surface is the lymphotoxin-alpha 1/beta 2 complex (e.g. 1 molecule alpha/2 molecules beta). This complex is the primary ligand for the lymphotoxin-beta receptor. The smaller complex is lymphotoxin-alpha 2/beta 1.

LTB is a trigger of the inflammatory response system and is involved in the normal development of lymphoid tissue. The lymphotoxin-beta isoform b cannot form a complex with lymphotoxin-alpha, which indicates a function of lymphotoxin-beta that is independent of lymphotoxin-alpha.

1. Crowe PD et al. (1994) A lymphotoxin-beta-specific receptor. Science 264(5159):707-710.
2. Tersteegen A et al. (2021) Lymphotoxin β Receptor: a Crucial Role in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses against Toxoplasma gondii. Infect Immun 89:e00026-21.