Anti-TIM4/TIMD-4 Antibody, clone Kat5-18 clone Kat5-18, from hamster(Armenian)

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 4 (UniProt Q6U7R4; also known as Spleen mucin-containing knockout of lymphotoxin protein, T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4, T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 4, T-cell membrane protein 4, TIMD-4, Smuckler) is encoded by the Timd4 (also known as B430010N18Rik, Tim4) gene (Gene ID 276891) in murine species. Phagocytes, including macrophages, target apoptotic cells for engulfment by recognizing their surface exposed phosphatidylserine (PtdSer or PS). Macrophages employ specific receptors and opsonins for PS recognition, such as Milk-fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8), protein S, growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), and TAM family TKR (Tyro 3, Axl, and MerTK) that function as protein S and Gs6 receptors. Tim (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing) family proteins, stabilins, and BAI1 also directly bind PtdSer and enhance the engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytes. Tim4 is shown to mediate murine resident peritoneal macrophages (rpMacs) engagment of apoptotic cells, while MerTK-mediates the engulfment of tethered target cells. Tim4- or MerTK-null mutations prevent rpMac-mediated apoptotic cell engulfment. Tim4-null, but not MerTK-null, macrophages lose their ability to tether apoptotic cells. Murine Tim4 is initially produced with a signal peptide sequence (a.a. 1-22), the removal of which yields the mature Tim4 with a large extracellular region (a.a.23-279), a transmembrane domain (a.a. 280-300), and a short cytoplasmic tail (a.a. 301-343).