MAFA
MAFA is a type II membranal glycoprotein, first identified on the surface of rat mucosal-type mast cells of the RBL-2H3 line. More recently, human and mouse homologues of MAFA have been discovered yet also expressed by NK and T-cells.
The intracellular domain of MAFA contains a single immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif, which classifies MAFA as a member of an inhibitory receptor superfamily. The inhibitory capacity of MAFA is best defined in mast cells, where MAFA keeps in check the antigen-induced secretion of inflammatory mediators.
