Lipocalins are important carriers of preferentially hydrophobic molecules, but they can also bind other ligands, like highly polar siderophores or intact proteins. Consequently, they are involved in a variety of physiological processes in many species. Since lipocalins are mainly extracellular proteins, they have to interact with cell receptors to exert their biological effects. In contrast to the large number of lipocalins identified in the last years, the number of receptors known is still limited. Nevertheless, some novel findings concerning the molecules involved in cellular uptake or signaling effects of lipocalins have been made recently. This review presents a detailed overview of the receptors identified so far. The methods used for isolation or identification are described and structural as well as functional information on these proteins is presented essentially in chronological order of their initial discovery.

脂质运载蛋白是优先疏水分子的重要载体，但它们也可以结合其他配体，如高极性铁载体或完整蛋白质。因此，它们参与了许多物种的多种生理过程。由于脂质运载蛋白主要是细胞外蛋白，它们必须与细胞受体相互作用才能发挥其生物学作用。与过去几年发现的大量脂质运载蛋白相比，已知的受体数量仍然有限。然而，最近已经取得了一些关于参与脂质运载蛋白的细胞摄取或信号传导作用的分子的新发现。这篇综述详细介绍了迄今为止确定的受体。