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26 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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LAG3
lymphocyte activating 3
Chromosome 12 · 12p13.31
NCBI Gene: 3902Ensembl: ENSG00000089692.10HGNC: HGNC:6476UniProt: P18627
163PubMed Papers
20Diseases
6Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub Gene
RESEARCH IMPACT
Trending
CLINICAL
FDA Approved Target
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
MHC class II protein bindingtransmembrane signaling receptor activitynegative regulation of T cell receptor signaling pathwaynegative regulation of T cell activationmelanomacolorectal cancernon-small cell lung carcinomacutaneous melanoma
✦AI Summary

LAG3 (lymphocyte activating 3) is an immune checkpoint receptor that functions as a negative regulator of T cell activation and immune responses. LAG3 binds to MHC class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and undergoes ligand-induced non-K48-linked polyubiquitination mediated by E3 ligases c-Cbl and Cbl-b, which disrupts membrane sequestration of its cytoplasmic signaling motifs and enables its inhibitory function 1. The protein contributes to T cell exhaustion in tumor microenvironments through sustained expression following persistent antigen exposure, resulting in impaired T cell proliferation and cytokine production 2. LAG3 shows striking synergy with PD-1 in multiple settings, and dual LAG3/PD-1 blockade provides superior clinical outcomes compared to PD-1 inhibition alone in melanoma patients 3. Beyond cancer immunotherapy, LAG3 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques where it mediates immune cell interactions that can be affected by cardiometabolic factors 4. LAG3 expression on exhausted CD8+ T cells correlates with immunotherapy resistance in lung adenocarcinoma 5. Additionally, LAG3 facilitates pathologic α-synuclein transmission in neurodegeneration through interaction with Aplp1, suggesting roles beyond immune regulation 6. The clinical significance of LAG3 is underscored by FDA-approved combination therapies targeting both LAG3 and PD-1 pathways 7.

Sources cited
1
LAG3 undergoes ligand-induced polyubiquitination that enables its inhibitory signaling function
PMID: 40101708
2
LAG3 contributes to T cell exhaustion in tumor microenvironments and shows synergy with PD-1
PMID: 28258692
3
Dual LAG3/PD-1 blockade provides superior clinical outcomes in melanoma
PMID: 34986285
4
LAG3 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and mediates immune cell interactions
PMID: 39613875
5
LAG3 expression on exhausted T cells correlates with immunotherapy resistance
PMID: 39591972
6
LAG3 facilitates pathologic α-synuclein transmission through interaction with Aplp1
PMID: 38821932
7
LAG3 blockade has FDA approval in combination with PD-1 inhibition
PMID: 39603977
Disease Associationsⓘ20
melanomaOpen Targets
0.57Moderate
colorectal cancerOpen Targets
0.35Weak
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.30Weak
cutaneous melanomaOpen Targets
0.21Weak
Hashimoto's thyroiditisOpen Targets
0.16Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.15Weak
cancerOpen Targets
0.14Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.12Weak
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.11Weak
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.10Weak
diffuse large B-cell lymphomaOpen Targets
0.10Weak
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.10Weak
metastatic melanomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
chronic lymphocytic leukemiaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
multiple myelomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
lymphomaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets6
EFTILAGIMOD ALFAPhase III
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein vaccine antigen
FAVEZELIMABPhase III
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein inhibitor
colorectal cancer
FIANLIMABPhase III
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein inhibitor
melanoma
IERAMILIMABPhase I/II
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein inhibitor
melanoma
RELATLIMABApproved
Lymphocyte activation gene 3 protein inhibitor
melanoma
TEBOTELIMABPhase I/II
Programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitor
hepatocellular carcinoma
Related Genes
CCR5Protein interaction100%CLEC4GProtein interaction99%IFNGProtein interaction99%LGALS9CProtein interaction99%LGALS9BProtein interaction99%LGALS3Protein interaction99%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Liver
23%
Lung
15%
Bone Marrow
11%
Brain
3%
Heart
2%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
LAG3CCR5CLEC4GIFNGLGALS9CLGALS9BLGALS3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7UM3 · 2.40 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.89LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.66 [0.50–0.89]
RankingsWhere LAG3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #2,756of 20,598
    Most Researched163 · top quartile
  • #891of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets1
  • #8,011of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.89
Genes detectedLAG3
Sources retrieved26 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
26▼
1
Relatlimab and Nivolumab versus Nivolumab in Untreated Advanced Melanoma.
PMID: 34986285
N Engl J Med · 2022
1.00
2
LAG3 (CD223) as a cancer immunotherapy target.
PMID: 28258692
Immunol Rev · 2017
0.90
3
Ligand-induced ubiquitination unleashes LAG3 immune checkpoint function by hindering membrane sequestration of signaling motifs.
PMID: 40101708
Cell · 2025
0.80
4
Immune checkpoint landscape of human atherosclerosis and influence of cardiometabolic factors.
PMID: 39613875
Nat Cardiovasc Res · 2024
0.70
5
Proximity between LAG-3 and the T cell receptor guides suppression of T cell activation and autoimmunity.
PMID: 40592325
Cell · 2025
0.68