GPR171 (G蛋白偶联受体171)

GPR171 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with close homology to the P2Y receptors. GPR171 is expressed within the periaqueductal gray. BigLEN, a 16-amino acid neuropeptide derived from a neuroendocrine secretory pathway protein proSAAS, has been identified as the endogenous ligand for GPR171. GPR171 is reported to regulate mu opioid receptor signaling, antinociception, feeding and anxiety behaviors. On the other hand, GPR171 is a well-accepted T-cell signature gene in cancer database analysis, though its potential immune function is untested. Based on early published databases, GPR171 expression tends to be upregulated in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and its expression in melanoma patients is significantly increased in response to immunotherapies. All these imply a possible role of GPR171 in T-cell immunity.