CD337/NCR3

CD337 is NKp30, encoded by NCR3, the natural cytotoxicity receptor that is constitutively expressed on mature human NK cells and serves as a key trigger of natural cytotoxicity against tumor cells. It contains a single extracellular Ig-like domain and in humans associates with CD3 zeta homodimers for signal transduction. Reported ligands include B7-H6 (encoded by NCR3LG1) on transformed cells and nuclear proteins such as BAT3/BAG6 released from stressed or dying cells, while the cytomegalovirus protein pp65 delivers an inhibitory interaction through NKp30. Splice variants and B7-H6 expression patterns influence NK function, and the NKp30 axis is studied for antitumor immunotherapy.