TAM receptors in apoptotic cell clearance, autoimmunity, and cancer

Abstract

Receptor tyrosine kinases, Tyro-3, Axl and Mer, collectively designated as TAM, are involved in the clearance of apoptotic cells. TAM ligands, Gas6 and Protein S, bind to the surfaces of apoptotic cells, and at the same time, interact directly with TAM expressed on phagocytes, impacting the engulfment and clearance of apoptotic cells and debris. The well-tuned and balanced actions of TAM may affect a variety of human pathologies including autoimmunity, retinal degeneration, and cancer. This article emphasizes some of the emerging findings and mechanistic insights into TAM functions that are clinically relevant and possibly therapeutically targeted.

Keywords::

• TAM receptors
• phosphatidylserine
• Gas6
• efferocytosis
• immune tolerance

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by a DoD Breast Cancer Research grant to RB. We would also like to thank Ms. Shelly Hsieh for critical reading of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.