This gene encodes a receptor for the Fc portion of
immunoglobulin G, and it is involved in the removal of
antigen-antibody complexes from the circulation, as well as other
other antibody-dependent responses. This gene (FCGR3A) is highly
similar to another nearby gene (FCGR3B) located on chromosome 1.
The receptor encoded by this gene is expressed on natural killer
(NK) cells as an integral membrane glycoprotein anchored through a
transmembrane peptide, whereas FCGR3B is expressed on
polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) where the receptor is anchored
through a phosphatidylinositol (PI) linkage. Mutations in this gene
have been linked to susceptibility to recurrent viral infections,
susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus, and alloimmune
neonatal neutropenia. Alternatively spliced transcript variants
encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
