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Review
. 2015 Nov;268(1):66-73.
doi: 10.1111/imr.12336.

Of ITIMs, ITAMs, and ITAMis: revisiting immunoglobulin Fc receptor signaling

Andrew Getahun  1 , John C Cambier  1
Affiliations
Review

Of ITIMs, ITAMs, and ITAMis: revisiting immunoglobulin Fc receptor signaling

Andrew Getahun et al. Immunol Rev. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Receptors for immunoglobulin Fc regions play multiple critical roles in the immune system, mediating functions as diverse as phagocytosis, triggering degranulation of basophils and mast cells, promoting immunoglobulin class switching, and preventing excessive activation. Transmembrane signaling associated with these functions is mediated primarily by two amino acid sequence motifs, ITAMs (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs) and ITIMs (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs) that act as the receptors' interface with activating and inhibitory signaling pathways, respectively. While ITAMs mobilize activating tyrosine kinases and their consorts, ITIMs mobilize opposing tyrosine and inositol-lipid phosphatases. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of signaling by these receptors/motifs and their sometimes blurred lines of function.

Keywords: Fc receptors; ITAMs; ITIMs; SHIP; SHP; signal transduction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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