Cytokine-induced expression of killer inhibitory receptors in human T lymphocytes.
Killer inhibitory receptors (KIRs) represent a new family of HLA-class I-specific receptors. KIRs are involved in the function of Natural Killer cells and allow these cells to discriminate between normal cells and cells with impaired expression of HLA-class I molecules. KIRs are also expressed by a subset of cytolytic T lymphocytes in which they may exert an inhibitory effect on TCR-mediated function. Here we review recent data indicating that cytokines such as IL-15, may induce the de novo expression of CD94/NKG2A (a KIR which operationally detects the expression of various HLA-class I alleles). The expression of CD94/NKG2A has been documented not only in CD34+ precursors undergoing maturation towards NK cells, but also in mature T cells which respond in vitro to superantigens or allogeneic cells.
Ponte
M
M
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Universita degli Studi di Genova, Italy.
Bertone
S
S
Vitale
C
C
Tradori-Cappai
A
A
Bellomo
R
R
Castriconi
R
R
Moretta
L
L
Mingari
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR