Recombinant Human SIRP alpha/CD172a Alexa Fluor® 488 Protein

Signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRP alpha, designated CD172a), also called SHPS-1 (SHP substrate 1) and previously, MyD-1 (Myeloid/Dendritic-1), is a monomeric ~90 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the SIRP/SHPS (CD172) family of the immunoglobulin superfamily (1 - 4). SIRPs are paired receptors, with similar extracellular domains but differing C-termini and functions (1, 2). The 503 amino acid (aa) human SIRP alpha contains a 342 aa extracellular domain (ECD), with one V-type, and two C1 type Ig domains, and three potential N glycosylation sites. It has a 110 aa cytoplasmic sequence with ITIM motifs that recruit tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2 when phosphorylated (4). Human SIRP alpha has more than 40 described polymorphisms, including the prominent BIT (Brain Ig like molecule with Tyrosine-based activation motifs, also called SIRP alpha₂ or PTPNS) (5). One reported isoform lacks aa 1 - 101, which eliminates most of the V type Ig domain. Human SIRP alpha ECD shares 61%, 60%, 71%, 72% and 73% aa identity with mouse, rat, porcine, bovine and equine SIRP alpha, respectively; it shares 84% and 76% aa identity with human SIRP beta1 and SIRP gamma, respectively (2). SIRP alpha is expressed mainly on myeloid cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic and Langerhans cells (3 - 6). It is also found on neurons, smooth muscle and endothelial cells (7 - 9). SIRP alpha shows adhesion to the ubiquitous CD47/IAP (integrin associated protein), while SIRP gamma binds more weakly and SIRP alpha1 does not bind at all (1, 2). Mouse and human SIRP alpha-CD47 binding only cross-reacts for specific polymorphisms and influences engraftment of xenotransplanted stem cells (6, 10). SIRP alpha engagement generally produces a negative regulatory signal (4). Low SIRP alpha recognition of CD47, which occurs on aged erythrocytes or platelets or xenogenic cells, promotes clearance of CD47^low cells from circulation (11, 13). SIRP alpha recognition of surfactants SP-A and SP-D in the lung can inhibit alveolar macrophage cytokine production (14). The CD47 integrin-SIRP alpha interaction is reported to promote macrophage fusion during osteoclastogenesis (15).