LIF-R/CD118

LIF-R/CD118 is the ligand-binding alpha subunit of the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor complex, encoded by LIFR and belonging to the gp130 family of type I cytokine receptors. Upon LIF binding, LIFR pairs with gp130 to activate JAK/STAT3, MAPK and PI3K pathways, and together with CNTFR the same machinery also responds to ciliary neurotrophic factor, oncostatin M, cardiotrophin-1 and related cytokines. LIFR signaling sustains pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells, supports trophoblast and bone biology and promotes neuronal survival. It is expressed on hematopoietic cells, osteoblasts, hepatocytes and neural tissue, and LIFR loss in some tumors reflects loss of metastasis-suppressing activity.