MERTK

MERTK, a receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the TAM family, is expressed in a variety of tissues with particular prominence in macrophages and retinal pigment epithelial cells. It functions by binding to phosphatidylserine-exposed apoptotic cells, thereby mediating macrophage phagocytosis and the clearance of apoptotic cells, which is crucial for tissue homeostasis, injury repair, and immune response regulation. Dysregulation of MERTK is linked to diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, various cancers, and immune-related disorders. Within the tumor microenvironment, MERTK's expression is implicated in tumor immune evasion by regulating the phagocytic activity of tumor-associated macrophages, influencing tumor immunogenicity and antitumor immunity. As such, MERTK represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment.