The functions of natural killer (NK) cells are clearly regulated by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on their cellular targets. In mice, this is due to the action of MHC-specific inhibitory receptors belonging to the Ly49 family of lectin-like molecules. The Ly49 receptors are encoded in the NK gene complex (NKC) that contains clusters of genes for other lectin-like receptors on NK cells and other hematopoietic cells. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that some of these lectin-like receptors, belonging to the Nkrp1 family, can recognize other lectin-like molecules, termed Clr, also encoded in the NKC. These genetically linked loci for receptor-ligand pairs suggest a genetic strategy to preserve this interaction and show several other contrasts with Ly49-MHC interactions. In this review, we discuss these issues and summarize recent developments concerning this non-MHC-dependent regulation of NK cell function. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.
CITATION STYLE
Plougastel, B. F. M., & Yokoyama, W. M. (2005). Extending missing-self? Functional interactions between lectin-like Nkrp1 receptors on NK cells with lectin-like ligands. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27743-9_4
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