Clec10a, also known as C-type lectin domain family 10 member A, CD301, or macrophage galactose-type lectin (MGL), is a C-type lectin receptor. It contains a carbohydrate-recognition domain specific for N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and is involved in various immune responses, including the initiation of TH1, TH2, and TH17 immune responses, and induction of tolerance in naïve T cells [2]. It also plays a role in maintaining skin homeostasis [1].

NC/Nga mice carry a stop-gain mutation in Clec10a. Repair of this mutation using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, as well as Clec10a -/- mice on the C57BL/6J background, demonstrated that Clec10a expressed on skin macrophages inhibits house dust mite (HDM)-induced Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammatory cytokine production, and its mutation or deficiency leads to exacerbated HDM-induced dermatitis [1].

In conclusion, Clec10a is crucial for regulating immune responses, especially in maintaining skin homeostasis against inflammation associated with HDM-induced dermatitis. Gene knockout mouse models have been instrumental in revealing its role in this specific disease area, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for related skin allergic diseases [1].

References:

1. Kanemaru, Kazumasa, Noguchi, Emiko, Tahara-Hanaoka, Satoko, Fujisawa, Yasuhiro, Nakamura, Yoshiyuki. . Clec10a regulates mite-induced dermatitis. In Science immunology, 4, . doi:10.1126/sciimmunol.aax6908. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31811054/

2. Hoober, J Kenneth. 2020. ASGR1 and Its Enigmatic Relative, CLEC10A. In International journal of molecular sciences, 21, . doi:10.3390/ijms21144818. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32650396/