CD361. also known as CLEC12A or MICL (myeloid inhibitory C-type lectin-like receptor), is a transmembrane protein belonging to the C-type lectin receptor family. It is primarily expressed on myeloid cells, including monocytes, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, and plays a regulatory role in immune responses. CD361 functions as an inhibitory receptor, modulating immune activation by counteracting stimulatory signals. Its extracellular domain recognizes endogenous ligands such as uric acid crystals or cell debris, while its intracellular domain contains immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) that recruit phosphatases to dampen signaling pathways.
CD361 antibodies are tools used to study its expression, function, and interactions in immune regulation. They have applications in flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and functional assays to explore CD361's role in diseases like leukemia, where it is overexpressed on malignant myeloid cells, serving as a potential diagnostic or therapeutic target. Recent research investigates CD361-targeting therapies, including antibody-drug conjugates or bispecific antibodies, to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by selectively eliminating CD361-positive cancer cells. Additionally, CD361 antibodies contribute to understanding autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, given its involvement in maintaining immune tolerance.
Overall, CD361 antibodies are critical for unraveling the protein's biological significance and advancing therapeutic strategies in oncology and immunology.