NCR3 Human

Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 3 (NCR3), also known as NKp30 or CD337, is a protein encoded by the NCR3 gene. This receptor plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly in the function of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are a type of lymphocyte that are essential for the body’s defense against tumors and virally infected cells.

The NCR3 gene is located on chromosome 6 and is a protein-coding gene . The protein encoded by this gene is a natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) that aids NK cells in the lysis of tumor cells . The NCR3 protein interacts with CD3-zeta (CD247), a T-cell receptor . There are three transcript variants encoding different isoforms of this protein .

NCR3 is a cell membrane receptor of NK cells that is activated by binding to extracellular ligands such as BAG6 and NCR3LG1 . This activation stimulates NK cell cytotoxicity towards neighboring cells producing these ligands, including tumor cells . Additionally, engagement of NCR3 by BAG6 promotes the maturation of myeloid dendritic cells (DC) by killing DCs that did not acquire a mature phenotype and inducing the release of TNFA and IFNG by NK cells, which further promotes DC maturation .

NCR3 has been associated with various diseases. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5’ untranslated region of the NCR3 gene has been linked to mild malaria susceptibility . The receptor’s ability to recognize and lyse tumor cells makes it a significant player in cancer immunotherapy . Moreover, NCR3’s role in promoting dendritic cell maturation highlights its importance in the broader immune response .

The unique functions of NCR3 in immune surveillance and tumor cell recognition have made it a target for therapeutic interventions. By harnessing NCR3’s ability to stimulate NK cell activity, researchers are exploring novel treatments for enhancing tumor surveillance and improving immune responses .