protein_function: Signal-transducing molecule. May have a common pathwaywith IL6ST. The soluble form inhibits the biological activity ofLIF by blocking its binding to receptors on target cells.
LIFR, also known as CD118(Cluster of Differentiation 118), is a subunit of a receptor for leukemia inhibitory factor. This gene encodes a protein that belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family. It is mapped to 5p31.1. The LIF receptor(LIFR) is the low-affinity binding chain that, together with the high-affinity converter subunit gp130, forms a high-affinity receptor complex that mediates the action of the leukemia-inhibitory factor. LIF is a polyfunctional cytokine that affects the differentiation, survival, and proliferation of a wide variety of cells in the adult and the embryo. Mutations in this gene cause Schwartz-Jampel syndrome type 2, a disease belonging to the group of the bent-bone dysplasias. A translocation that involves the promoter of this gene, togerther with the pleiomorphic adenoma gene 1, is associated with salivary gland pleiomorphic adenoma, a common type of benign epithelial tumor of the salivary gland.