C-type lectin domain family 16, also known as CLEC16A, is a
protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CLEC16A''
gene.
Function
Little is known regarding the function of the CLEC16A protein, however it is shown to be highly expressed on
B-lymphocytes
B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or ...
,
natural killer (NK) and
dendritic cell
Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells (also known as ''accessory cells'') of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the cell surface to the T cells of the immune system. ...
s. Despite its name CLEC16A may not function as a lectin because its
C-type lectin domain is only 20 amino-acids long.
Clinical significance
Polymorphisms in the CLEC16A gene are associated with an increased risk of
multiple sclerosis
Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...
as well as
type I diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that originates when cells that make insulin (beta cells) are destroyed by the immune system. Insulin is a hormone required for the cells to use blood sugar for ...
.
References
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