Human Butyrophilin Subfamily 3 Member A1 (BTN3A1) Protein

Background

BTN3A, a member of the butyrophilin (BTN) family, is a type I transmembrane protein primarily involved in the modulation of immune responses. BTN3A is encoded by the BTN3A1, BTN3A2, and BTN3A3 genes, which are part of the larger BTN gene family located on chromosome 6 in humans. The BTN family is a subset of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and shares structural similarities with the B7 family of co-stimulatory molecules. BTN3A proteins are expressed in a variety of tissues, including immune cells like T cells and dendritic cells, indicating their significant role in immune system regulation. BTN3A1 isoform is the most extensively studied and is known for its role in the activation of γδ T cells. BTN3A1 interacts with phosphoantigens and facilitates their recognition by γδ T cells, leading to immune activation.