A KIR-TLR connection

Abstract

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are well-known for binding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and allowing natural killer (NK) cells to monitor HLA levels on host cells. Unexpectedly, Sivori and colleagues have found that certain KIRs can also bind microbial nucleic acid and deliver it to endosome resident Toll-like receptors (TLRs), identifying a completely novel role for KIR family receptors.1 (Figure Presented).