GFR1

GFR1 is an abbreviation that can refer to several distinct concepts depending on the context. In biology and genetics, it most commonly denotes the GDNF family receptor alpha-1, encoded by the GFRA1 gene. This receptor is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein that binds ligands of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family. Upon ligand binding, GFRA1 forms a signaling complex with the RET receptor tyrosine kinase, triggering intracellular pathways such as MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT that regulate neuronal survival, differentiation, and migration. GFRA1 plays a role in the development of the enteric nervous system, kidney morphogenesis, and dopaminergic neuron maintenance; expression is detected in neural and developing tissues as well as various adult tissues.

Genetics and regulation of GFRA1 indicate widespread expression and control by developmental cues and neuronal activity. Dysregulation of GDNF-GFRA1-RET signaling has been studied in the contexts of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine. The receptor’s interaction with multiple GDNF family ligands allows a broad influence over neural development and maintenance, making it a focus of research in developmental biology and neurology.

Other uses of the term GFR1 exist in fields outside this specific protein, and the abbreviation is not a standardized clinical designation in nephrology. In medical practice, glomerular filtration rate is typically reported as eGFR or GFR, with no universal reference to a GFR1 measurement. See also GFRA1, GDNF, and RET for related signaling components.