SCARF1: a multifaceted, yet largely understudied, scavenger receptor.
BACKGROUND
As is a prerequisite of belonging to the scavenger receptor super family, SCARF1 (scavenger receptor class F, member 1) is known to play a key role in the binding and endocytosis of a wide range of endogenous and exogenous ligands.


FINDINGS
Unlike most scavenger receptors, SCARF1 is an essential protein, as SCARF1-deficient mice exhibit a severe resting phenotype in which they develop systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease, thus highlighting the importance of SCARF1-mediated clearance of apoptotic host cells in homeostasis. In addition, a number of other roles in homeostasis and disease pathology have also been suggested, including roles in both innate and adaptive immunity; however, the majority of these studies have utilised transfected cell lines engineered to ectopically express SCARF1 and very few have utilised in vivo or ex vivo approaches.


CONCLUSION
This review summarises our current knowledge on SCARF1 biology and reflects on future directions for research on this multifaceted, yet largely understudied, scavenger receptor.
['Patten|Daniel A|DA|']
D056704:Adaptive Immunity D000818:Animals D017209:Apoptosis D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules D006801:Humans D007113:Immunity, Innate D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL D051128:Scavenger Receptors, Class F
SCARF1 Innate immunity Leukocyte adhesion molecule SREC-I