IGSF8


Immunoglobulin superfamily member 8 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IGSF8 gene. IGSF8 has also been designated as CD316. IGSF8 is an innate immune checkpoint that inhibits the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. IGSF8 acts by binding to the Killer Ig-like Receptor KIR3DL2. IGSF8 is frequently overexpressed relative to normal tissues in many cancers, included melanoma, urothelial carcinoma, and breast cancer, and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target in gliomas. In normal tissues, IGSF8 is highly expressed in the brain, where it may contribute to the immune privilege of the central nervous system.

Cancer biomarker

In gliomas, IGSF8 is strongly correlated with tumor grade and is a potential prognostic marker. IGSF8 is enriched on ovarian cancer-derived extracellular vesicles and is a potential biomarker for the early detection of high grade serous ovarian cancer.