title: Signal regulatory proteins in the immune system.
abstract: Signal regulatory proteins (SIRPs) constitute a family of transmembrane glycoproteins with extracellular Ig-like domains. Several SIRP family members have thus far been identified on myeloid and other cells in man, mouse, rat, and cattle. In the present study, we provide a description of the SIRP multigene family, including a number of previously undescribed SIRP genes, based on the complete genome sequences of various mammalian and bird species. We discuss this information in the context of the known immunological properties of the individual SIRP family members. Our analysis reveals SIRPs as a diverse multigene family of immune receptors, which includes inhibitory SIRPalpha, activating SIRPbeta, nonsignaling SIRPgamma, and soluble SIRPdelta members. For each species, there appears to be a single inhibitory SIRPalpha member that, upon interaction with the "self" ligand CD47, controls "homeostatic" innate immune effector functions, such as host cell phagocytosis. The activating SIRPbeta proteins show considerable variability in structure and number across species and do not bind CD47. Thus the SIRP family is a rapidly evolving gene family with important roles in immune regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Beek
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.forename: A Neil
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Timo K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000737:chemistry*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D005810:Multigene Family; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C501920:SIRPA protein, human; C501921:SIRPB1 protein, human; C490691:SIRPG protein, human