The KLRC3 antibody targets the protein encoded by the Killer Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C, Member 3 (KLRC3) gene, a member of the natural killer (NK) cell receptor family. KLRC3. also known as NKG2E, is a C-type lectin-like transmembrane protein predominantly expressed on NK cells and subsets of T lymphocytes. It plays a role in immune regulation by interacting with HLA-E molecules on target cells, a mechanism critical for recognizing cellular stress, viral infection, or malignant transformation. KLRC3 forms heterodimers with CD94. enabling it to transmit activation or inhibition signals depending on the HLA-E-bound peptide, thereby modulating NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production.
Antibodies against KLRC3 are essential tools for studying NK cell biology, immune responses, and disease mechanisms. They are widely used in flow cytometry to identify and isolate NK cell populations, in immunohistochemistry to map protein expression in tissues, and in functional assays to dissect receptor-ligand interactions. Research involving KLRC3 antibodies has shed light on their roles in viral infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis), cancer immunotherapy, and autoimmune disorders. However, KLRC3's exact functional dichotomy—balancing activating versus inhibitory signaling—remains under investigation, partly due to genetic variations and splice isoforms. These antibodies also hold potential in developing diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic strategies targeting NK cell-mediated immunity.