Decoy receptor

A decoy receptor (translatable as "dummy receptor; decoy receptor") is a specific receptor that binds its ligand with high affinity but does not transmit signals.

Due to the binding of ligands to Decoy receptors, fewer ligands are available to the functional receptors, which means that they can only be activated to a lesser extent. As a result, Decoy receptors act as competitive inhibitors of their respective functional counterparts.

Examples of Decoy receptors:

• Interleukin-1 receptor type 2: IL1R2 was one of the first Decoy receptors identified. It binds IL1a and IL1b and inhibits their binding to the IL1R1 receptor, thereby preventing the inflammatory response that is generally promoted by the binding of type 1 interleukins to the type I interleukin receptor 1.
• Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3): The DcR3 receptor, also known as TNFRSF6, is found primarily in tumor tissue and acts as a decoy receptor for the TNF cytokines: FasL, LIGHT and TL1A. It inhibits the apoptotic abilities of these cytokines.
• VEGFR-1: VEGFR-1 is a non-functional kinase-defective receptor tyrosine kinase that negatively modulates angiogenesis by acting as a Decoy receptor. The Decoy property of VEGFR-1 is required for normal development and angiogenesis.
• Osteoprotegerin: Osteoprotegerin binds RANKL and inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway and thus the immune response.