title: Natural cytotoxicity receptors that trigger human NK-cell-mediated cytolysis.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells can detect whether cells have undergone tumour transformation or viral infection. The discovery of specific inhibitory receptors for major histocompatibility complex class I molecules clarified the basis of this discrimination. However, the receptors responsible for NK-cell triggering in the process of natural cytotoxicity remained elusive until recently. Here, Alessandro Moretta and colleagues describe the identification and characterization of several such receptors.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, University of Genova, Italy. moretta@ermes.cba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mingari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C050356:steroid 15-alpha-hydroxylase