This gene encodes a transmembrane signaling polypeptide which contains an
immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) in its cytoplasmic domain. The encoded protein may associate with the
killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) family of membrane glycoproteins and may act as an activating
signal transduction element. This protein may bind zeta-chain associated protein kinase 70 kDa (
ZAP-70) and
spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and play a role in signal transduction,
bone modeling, brain
myelination, and
inflammation. Mutations within this gene have been associated with
polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy (PLOSL), also known as Nasu-Hakola disease. Its putative receptor, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (
TREM2), also causes PLOSL. Two alternative transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified for this gene. Other alternative splice variants have been described, but their full-length nature has not been determined. == Interactions ==