The SIRP family of receptors and immune regulation

Nat Rev Immunol. 2006 Jun;6(6):457-64. doi: 10.1038/nri1859.

Abstract

The immune system must be highly regulated to obtain optimal immune responses for the elimination of pathogens without causing undue side effects. This tight regulation involves complex interactions between membrane proteins on leukocytes. Members of the signal-regulatory protein (SIRP) family, which are expressed mainly by myeloid cells, provide one example of these regulatory membrane proteins. There are three SIRP-family genes that encode proteins that have similar extracellular regions but different signalling potentials, and are therefore known as 'paired receptors'. In this Review, we describe recent studies defining the ligands of the SIRP-family members, with particular emphasis on relating the molecular interactions of these proteins to their role in immune-cell regulation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / genetics
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Multigene Family*
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / physiology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • SIRPA protein, human
  • SIRPB1 protein, human
  • SIRPB2 protein, human