title: KIR expression shapes cytotoxic repertoires: a developmental program of survival.
abstract: We hypothesize a sequential program of expression of the leukocyte-receptor complex (LRC) in CD8+T cells, associated with cellular activation and the subsequent establishment of immune homeostasis through resistance to apoptosis. This program, which is consistent with the linear development of memory CD8+ T cells, represents an ordered expression of genes during differentiation, analogous to expression of the homeobox- or globin-gene clusters. Our model not only has implications for the development and maintenance of T-cell memory but also, relates to the formation of LRC repertoires in other cell types, particularly, the development of killer-cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) repertoires in natural-killer-cell precursors.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Dept of Surgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, UK. neil.young@nds.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Neil T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhrberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR