SCARF1: a multifaceted, yet largely understudied, scavenger receptor

As is a prerequisite of belonging to the scavenger receptor super family, SCARF1 (scavenger receptor class F, member 1) is known to play a key role in the binding and endocytosis of a wide range of endogenous and exogenous ligands. Unlike most scavenger receptors, SCARF1 is an essential protein, as SCARF1-deficient mice exhibit a severe resting phenotype in which they develop systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease, thus highlighting the importance of SCARF1-mediated clearance of apoptotic host cells in homeostasis. In addition, a number of other roles in homeostasis and disease pathology have also been suggested, including roles in both innate and adaptive immunity; however, the majority of these studies have utilised transfected cell lines engineered to ectopically express SCARF1 and very few have utilised in vivo or ex vivo approaches. This review summarises our current knowledge on SCARF1 biology and reflects on future directions for research on this multifaceted, yet largely understudied, scavenger receptor.