CD26: a surface protease involved in T-cell activation

CD26 is a proteolytic enzyme (dipeptidylpeptidase IV) with a wide tissue distribution and a unique specificity. Recent developments indicate that CD26 is a multifunctional molecule that may have important functions in the immune system. Here, Bernhard Fleischer reviews the current knowledge of CD26 and discusses the possible functions of this molecule in T lymphocytes.