MARCO
Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MARCO gene.[5][6][7][8] MARCO is a class A scavenger receptor that is found on particular subsets of macrophages.[9][10][11] Scavenger receptors are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) found most commonly on immune cells.[10] Their defining feature is that they bind to polyanions and modified forms of a type of cholesterol called low-density lipoprotein (LDL).[9][10] MARCO is able to bind and phagocytose these ligands and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), leading to the clearance of pathogens and cell signaling events that lead to inflammation.[11][12] As part of the innate immune system, MARCO clears, or scavenges, pathogens, which leads to inflammatory responses.[12] The scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain at the end of the extracellular side of MARCO binds ligands to activate the subsequent immune responses.[12] MARCO expression on macrophages has been associated with tumor development and also with Alzheimer's disease, via decreased responses of cells when ligands bind to MARCO.[13][14]