Cell-surface immune receptors on B cells, T cells, and NK cells

Cell-surface immune receptors on B cells, T cells, and NK cells represent a broad category of proteins that mediate the recognition, activation, and regulation of the adaptive and innate immune systems (Source: Janeway's Immunobiology, 2017). These receptors include the B-cell receptor (BCR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) for antigen specificity, as well as a vast array of Cluster of Differentiation (CD) markers that serve as co-receptors or signaling anchors (Source: NCBI Gene, 2024). In oncology and immunology, these molecules are pivotal therapeutic targets; for example, CD19 and CD20 are targeted in B-cell malignancies, while PD-1 and CTLA-4 are targeted to modulate T-cell checkpoints (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2020). NK cell receptors, such as KIRs and NKG2D, are also increasingly explored for their role in surveillance and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (Source: Frontiers in Immunology, 2021). Drugs interacting with these receptors range from monoclonal antibodies and bispecific engagers to cell-based therapies like CAR-T cells (Source: FDA, 2023). Due to the breadth of this classification, it encompasses a heterogeneous set of molecular structures and signaling pathways rather than a single drug-target interaction. Consequently, this entry is considered a functional grouping of targets rather than a specific, individual therapeutic target.

Other names

Lymphocyte surface receptorsImmune cell surface markersCluster of differentiation antigensLeukocyte surface proteinsImmune checkpoint receptors

Drugs targeting these receptors typically function by either blocking inhibitory signals (checkpoint inhibition), enhancing stimulatory signals (agonism), or inducing direct cell death through mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), or the delivery of cytotoxic payloads (Source: StatPearls, 2023).