Abstract:

Dipeptidase 3 （DPEP3） is a testis-specific GPI-anchored metallopeptidase and a typical cancer-testis antigen（CTA）， which exerts vital functions in male reproductive regulation and tumorigenesis. This article systematically summarizes the gene location， molecular structure， tissue expression profile and biological functions of DPEP3. It elaborates the roles of DPEP3 in spermatogenesis and maintenance of testicular microenvironmental homeostasis， as well as its expression changes and evaluation value in infertility-related diseases including oligoasthenoteratozoospermia， azoospermia and varicocele. Meanwhile， those are summarized about the ectopic activation mechanism， immunogenicity and research progress as a therapeutic target of DPEP3 in multiple malignant tumors in this review. Studies suggest that DPEP3 can serve as a supplementary biomarker for the diagnosis of male infertility， and is also a potential target for tumor immunotherapies including antibody-drug conjugates and CAR-T cell therapy. Further research on the molecular mechanism and clinical transformation of DPEP3 is of great theoretical and clinical significance to promote the precise diagnosis and treatment of male reproductive diseases and targeted immunotherapy of malignant tumors.

Key words: cancer-testis antigen, dipeptidase 3, GPI-anchored protein, immunotherapeutic target, spermatogenesis