title: The roles of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases in the mammalian testis and immunoprivileged sites.
abstract: Three members of a receptor tyrosine kinase family, including Tyro3, Axl, and Mer, are collectively called as TAM receptors. TAM receptors have two common ligands, namely, growth arrest specific gene 6 (Gas6) and protein S (ProS). The TAM-Gas6/ProS system is essential for phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells, and plays critical roles in regulating immune response. Genetic studies have shown that TAM receptors are essential regulators of the tissue homeostasis in immunoprivileged sites, including the testis, retina and brain. The mechanisms by which the TAM-Gas6/ProS system regulates the tissue homeostasis in immunoprivileged sites are emerging. The roles of the TAM-Gas6/ProS system in regulating the immune privilege were intensively investigated in the mouse testis, and several studies were performed in the eye and brain. This review summarizes our current understanding of TAM signaling in the testis and other immunoprivileged tissues, as well as highlights topics that are worthy of further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qiaoyuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, dshan@ibms.pumc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Daishu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases