Biolegend, 782706, Recombinant Human MICA-Fc Chimera (carrier-free)

MICA, human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I polypeptide-related sequence A is a member of the MIC family that includes MICA, MICB, and five pseudogenes MICC to MICG . MICA is a protein of 383 amino acids and interacts with the NKG2D receptor and the T cell receptor (TCR) to activate NK cells, αβ CD8 T cells, and γδ T cells. MICA and MICB contain two Ig-like domains (α1, α2) and the C-type Ig-like α3 domain, a transmembrane domain, and a carboxyl-terminal intracellular tail. MICA and MICB are conserved in most mammals, but not in rodents. MICA and MICB have high similarity (84% identical). MICA and MICB diverge from the MHC class I family, when they are compared domain by domain, they present a similarity of 28 to 35%. MICA and MICB bind to NKG2D, and the binding of MICB to the receptor can be blocked by a chimeric form of UL16; indicating that UL16 binds to the same, or overlaps with the binding epitope present in NKG2D on the NK cells. MICA and MICB, and the UL16-binding proteins are expressed in the membrane of tumor cells, and the participation of ADAM10 and ADAM17 has been associated to shedding of these NKG2D ligands. Soluble NKG2D ligands downregulate NKG2D expression in the effector lymphocytes; therefore, helping the tumor to escape.