Paired immunoglobulin-like receptor (PIR)-A is involved in activating mast cells through its association with Fc receptor γ chain

Paired immunoglobulin-like receptor (PIR)-A and PIR-B possess similar ectodomains with six immunoglobulin-like loops, but have distinct transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. PIR-B bears immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) sequences in its cytoplasmic domain that recruit Src homology (SH)2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2, leading to inhibition of B and mast cell activation. In contrast, the PIR-A protein has a charged Arg residue in its transmembrane region and a short cytoplasmic domain that lacks ITIM sequences. Here we show that Fc receptor gamma chain, containing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), associates with PIR-A. Cross-linking of this PIR-A complex results in mast cell activation such as calcium mobilization in an ITAM-dependent manner. Thus, our data provide evidence for the existence of two opposite signaling pathways upon PIR aggregation. PIR-A induces the stimulatory signal by using ITAM in the associated gamma chain, whereas PIR-B mediates the inhibitory signal through its ITIMs.