CLEC7A
C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (Dectin-1)
Also known as: CLEC7A, Dectin-1, DECTIN1, BGR
Biology & Mechanism
CLEC7A encodes Dectin-1, a pattern recognition receptor that recognizes β-glucans and is a prominent marker of plaque-associated, disease-associated microglia (DAM). CLEC7A expression is strongly induced in microglia surrounding amyloid plaques and following neuronal injury. Dectin-1 signaling activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and drives inflammatory cytokine production. Its strong DAM-specific expression positions CLEC7A as both a marker and potential functional mediator of disease microglia.
Open Questions
- —What endogenous CNS ligands activate CLEC7A in the absence of fungal β-glucans?
- —Does CLEC7A-NLRP3 axis drive beneficial or detrimental inflammation around amyloid plaques?
- —Can CLEC7A be used as an imaging target for disease-associated microglia in living patients?
Sources
- Transcriptomic analysis of purified human cortical microglia reveals age-associated changes (2017)
Last reviewed: June 1, 2026