An extended family of Fc receptor relatives.
A surprising number of Fc receptor (FcR) relatives have been recognized recently with the potential capacity to modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. The six human FcR homologs (FcRH1-6), which belong to a phylogenetically conserved gene family, have variable numbers of extracellular immunoglobulin domains of five different subtypes. FcRH immunoregulatory potential is implicated by the presence of consensus tyrosine-based activation or inhibition motifs in their cytoplasmic tails. All but one of these new receptors, FcRH6, are expressed on B cells at different stages in differentiation. Their ligands, function, and prospective roles as diagnostic B cell markers and therapeutic targets are topics of intense interest.
Davis
Randall S
RS
Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA.
Ehrhardt
Goetz R A
GR
Leu
Chuen-Miin
CM
Hirano
Masayuki
M
Cooper
Max D
MD
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D011961:Receptors, Fc