CD5L

CD5L, also called Spα or AIM (apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages), is a secreted scavenger receptor cysteine-rich protein structurally related to the extracellular domains of CD5 and CD6 but lacking any membrane anchor. Produced mainly by tissue macrophages, it circulates in serum bound to IgM and contributes to apoptotic cell clearance and inflammatory restraint. CD5L binds fatty acid synthase in macrophages, reprogramming lipid metabolism toward inflammatory fatty acid synthesis and thereby shaping macrophage polarization. In mice, CD5L deficiency exacerbates autoimmunity and alters host defense, while in humans the protein has been linked to obesity-related inflammation and to IgM-containing circulating complexes. Recombinant CD5L has been explored as an anti-inflammatory biologic.