Tumor Necrosis Factor Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Receptor (TRAIL Receptor)

The tumor necrosis factor apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors (TRAIL receptors) are cell surface proteins that mediate the effects of TRAIL, a cytokine that induces programmed cell death (apoptosis), particularly in cancer cells. These receptors, including DR4 and DR5 (which possess death domains) and the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2, play a critical role in regulating apoptosis and are important targets for anticancer therapies. TRAIL binding to DR4/DR5 initiates a caspase cascade leading to cell death, while decoy receptors modulate sensitivity by competing for TRAIL binding or activating alternative signaling pathways like NF-kB.

Other names

Death Receptor 4 (DR4)TRAIL-R1Death Receptor 5 (DR5)TRAIL-R2Decoy Receptor 1 (DcR1)Decoy Receptor 2 (DcR2)

Agonists targeting TRAIL receptors induce apoptosis in cancer cells via the extrinsic apoptotic pathway (FADD/caspase-8 activation leading to caspase-3 activation)