Invitrogen™ HCAR2 Monoclonal Antibody (245115)

Description

Reconstitute at 0.5 mg/mL in sterile PBS.

GPR109A (also known as HCA2, HM74a, and NIACR1) is a 42kDa G-protein coupled receptor that belongs to a family of three hydroxyl-carboxylic acid receptors, which also include GPR109B and GPR81. GPR109A has two known ligands: niacin and butyrate (or its derivative 3-hydroxybutyrate). The endogenous ligands for GPR109B and GPR81 are 3-hydroxyl-octanoic acid and 2-hydroxy-propanoate (lactate), respectively. GPR109A is expressed on adipocytes, neutrophils, Langerhans cells, keratinocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal colonic macrophages. Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3, is known to improve cholesterol metabolism (LDL/HDL ratio) and reduce inflammation. It has been demonstrated that this effect is mediated through GPR109A. Notably, GPR109A also has an essential role in suppressing inflammation and cancer in the colon. Both GPR109A ligands are produced by colonic commensal bacteria. In mice, GPR109A expression on intestinal epithelial cells and DCs/macrophages contributes to the suppression of colitis and colon cancer. In humans, GPR109A is silenced in colon carcinoma cells by DNA methylation, which increases inflammation in the intestinal tract.