NCR1/NKp46 (E2K4N) Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody #23732

The family of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) contains NCR1 (NKp46/CD335), NCR2 (NKp44/CD336), and NCR3 (NKp30/CD337). They are single-pass type I transmembrane proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. Various pathogen-derived and host-encoded molecules have been identified as ligands for the NCRs. They were originally identified by their ability to evoke the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells toward tumor cells in vitro, and animal models have demonstrated that NCRs play a role in vivo in tumor surveillance, viral infection, and pregnancy (1-5).

NCR1/NKp46 is considered a universal marker for NK cells, and recent studies found that it is also expressed by other cells, such as group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1), a subset of group 3 ILCs (NCR+ ILC3), and γδ T cells (2-4). NCR1/NKp46 is also expressed on and considered as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for some malignant NK, NKT, and T cell lymphomas (6,7). Cross-linking NCR1/NKp46 with antibodies can activate NK cells and this has been pursued as a promising therapeutic avenue (8).