title: Tetraspanin-Fc receptor interactions.
abstract: The tetraspanins are a superfamily of membrane glycoproteins which facilitate the interaction of membrane and intracellular signalling molecules (e.g., integrins, pro-growth factors and their receptors, protein kinase-C) in the formation of membrane signalling microdomains (sometimes referred to as the tetraspanin web). A proximal localisation/association of tetraspanins with Fc receptors (FcR) has been implied by the repeated rediscoveries of tetraspanins as the targets of antibodies which activate platelets and other blood cells through co-ligation of FcR. Direct evidence of tetraspanin-FcR interactions has come from immunoprecipitation and co-immunofluorescence studies. The functional effects of this interaction remain unclear, but tetraspanins have been identified as negative regulators of FcR signalling independently of co-ligation, indicating potential roles in modulating FcR function in co-ordination with the activity of other signalling/adhesion molecules in the tetraspanin web. Given their capacity to influence FcR signalling, tetraspanins could provide specific therapeutic targets for immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and allergies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3080, Australia. greg.moseley@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Moseley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011961:Receptors, Fc