DcR2 Background Information
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine whose function is mediated by two distinct cell surface receptors, designated TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, which are expressed on most cell types. TNF function is primarily mediated through TNF-R1 signaling. Both receptors belong to the growing TNF receptor superfamily which includes FAS antigen and CD40. TNF-R1 contains a cytoplasmic motif, termed the “death domain,” that has been found to be necessary for the transduction of the apoptotic signal. The death domain is also found in several other receptors, including FAS, DR2 (or TRUNDD), DR3 (death receptor 3), DR4, DR5 and DR6. TRUNDD, DR4 and DR5 are receptors for the apoptosis-inducing cytokine TRAIL. Non-death domain-containing receptors, designated decoy receptor 1 (DcR1) or TRID, DcR2 and DcR3, associate with specific ligands and may play a role in cellular resistance to apoptotic stimuli.
