Formyl peptide receptors

Formyl peptide receptors are chemotactic receptors and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize bacterial and mitochondria-derived formylated peptides.    In humans, there are three formyl peptide receptor isoforms, FPR1, FPR2, and FPR3.   Formyl peptide receptors are highly expressed on mammalian phagocytic leukocytes and are also found at lower expression levels on endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes and hepatocytes.  Formyl peptide receptors can detect a range of molecules including peptides and lipids, with ligand diversity being a prominent and unusual feature of FPR family receptors.

Formyl peptide receptors are involved in host defense against infections and clearance of damaged host cells and also in sensing molecules that may signal cellular dysfunction.   They play a key role in the innate immune system, regulating both the initiation and the resolution of the inflammatory response.  FPR expression is associated with tumour progression in various cancer types and formyl peptide receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyloidosis, Alzheimer's disease, prion disease and HIV. 

Further reading

Ye et al (2009) International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXIII. Nomenclature for the Formyl Peptide Receptor (FPR) Family.  Pharmacological Reviews 61(2) 119 PMID: 19498085

Jeong and Bae (2020) Formyl peptide receptors in the mucosal immune system. Exp Mol Med 52 1694 PMID: 33082511

Cuomo et al (2021) The Role of Formyl Peptide Receptors in Permanent and Low-Grade Inflammation: Helicobacter pylori Infection as a Model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(7) 3706 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073706

Lee et al (2023) Formyl peptide receptor 2 is an emerging modulator of inflammation in the liver. Exp Mol Med. 2023 55(2) 325 PMID: 36750693