title: Fc receptor-like molecules.
abstract: Discovery of a large family of Fc receptor-like (FCRL) molecules, homologous to the well-known receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (FCR), has uncovered an impressive abundance of immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) genes in the human 1q21-23 chromosomal region and revealed significant diversity for these genes between humans and mice. The observation that FCRL representatives are members of an ancient multigene family that share a common ancestor with the classical FCR is underscored by their linked genomic locations, gene structure, shared extracellular domain composition, and utilization of common cytoplasmic tyrosine-based signaling elements. In contrast to the conventional FCR, however, FCRL molecules possess diverse extracellular frameworks, autonomous or dual signaling properties, and preferential B lineage expression. Most importantly, there is no strong evidence thus far to support a role for them as Ig-binding receptors. These characteristics, in addition to their identification in malignancies and autoimmune disorders, predict a fundamental role for these receptors as immunomodulatory agents in normal and subverted B lineage cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3300, USA. rsdavis@uab.edu
authors.forename: Randall S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic