– VSIG4, a B7 family-related protein, is a negative regulator of T cell activation.T cell activation by APCs is positively and negatively regulated by members of the B7 family. Unlike that of B7 family members, surface expression of VSIG4 was restricted to resting tissue macrophages and absent upon activation by LPS or in autoimmune inflammatory foci. The specific expression of VSIG4 on resting macrophages in tissue suggests that this inhibitory ligand may be important for the maintenance of T cell unresponsiveness in healthy tissues.