TFRC Specific Neutra™ Antibody Products
Product listTransferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), encoded by the TFRC gene, is a cell membrane protein that plays a crucial role in the uptake of iron into cells. It is primarily found on the surface of cells involved in iron metabolism, such as hepatocytes and erythroid precursors. Structurally, TfR1 is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein having three domains per monomer: an N-terminal apical domain, a helical domain, and a C-terminal protease-like domain. Functionally, TfR1 binds to transferrin, the major carrier of iron in the blood, and facilitates the internalization of iron-transferrin complexes via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Once inside the cell, iron is released from transferrin and utilized for various cellular processes, such as DNA synthesis and mitochondrial function. TfR1 is essential for maintaining cellular iron homeostasis and targeting TfR1 with monoclonal antibodies is a potential therapeutic strategy for iron metabolism disorders and certain cancers.
Its Gene ID: 7037, UniProtKB ID: P02786, and OMIM ID: 190010.
Fig. 1 The human cellular iron homeostasis. Distributed under CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wiki, without modification.
TfR1 and Cancer
In normal cells, TfR1 expression is tightly regulated to meet the cell's iron demands. However, in cancer cells, TfR1 expression is often upregulated due to their increased need for iron to support rapid proliferation and growth. This higher expression of TfR1 allows cancer cells to acquire more iron from transferrin, promoting their survival and progression. TfR1 has been identified as a universal cancer marker, TfR1 is abundantly expressed in solid cancers such as liver, breast cancer, lung cancer, and cancers of the nervous system as well as hematopoietic malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Targeting TfR1 in cancer cells has been explored as a potential therapeutic strategy to disrupt iron uptake and inhibit tumor growth.
Antibodies Targeting TfR1 for Cancer Therapy
Antibodies against TfR1 have been used for many years to transport chemotherapy into cancer cells, reducing off-target effects and improving therapeutic efficacy. In addition, antibodies specifically binding to TfR1 on the surface of cancer cells can deliver cytotoxic agents or block iron uptake, leading to targeted cell death or inhibition of tumor growth. The anti-tumor activity of various anti-TfR1 antibodies has been demonstrated in a wide range of cancer types while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Antibodies targeting TfR1 offer a precision approach to treating cancer and are a continuously growing field. More research and clinical studies are being conducted to fully understand the potential of TfR1-targeted antibodies in cancer therapy.
Fig. 2 Iron uptake can be disrupted by therapeutic antibodies targeting TfR1 via multiple mechanisms.1
Creative Biolabs offers high-quality anti-TFRC recombinant antibody products with over ten application fields to meet your special research requests. Furthermore, TFRC-based bispecific antibodies can be customized here.
REFERENCE
- Candelaria, Pierre V., et al. "Antibodies targeting the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) as direct anti-cancer agents." Frontiers in immunology 12 (2021): 607692. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
