CD39 in the pathogenesis of neuro-Behçet disease: is it an immune regulator marker?

Neuro-Behçet’s disease (NBD) is a severe neurological manifestation of Behçet’s disease (BD), a multisystemic inflammatory vasculitis affecting multiple organs. NBD presents complex immunopathological features involving both innate and adaptive immune responses. CD39 (ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1, ENTPD1), an ectoenzyme expressed on various immune cells, has emerged as a critical regulator of inflammation through its role in hydrolyzing extracellular ATP to immunosuppressive adenosine. This mini-review explores the role of CD39 in modulating neuroinflammation in NBD, focusing on its function in immune cell subsets, its dual role in inflammation and regulation, and its potential as a therapeutic target. It synthesizes the role of CD39 in neuroinflammatory disorders, with a specific focus on Neuro-Behçet’s Disease (NBD). We examine the dual role of CD39 expression in driving inflammation and immune regulation, and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.