title: Human natural killer cell receptors: insights into their molecular function and structure.
abstract: NK cells express receptors characterized by opposite functions that finely regulate their activities. Among inhibitory receptors, some are specific for different groups of MHC class I alleles, while others are still orphan receptors. On the contrary, various activating receptors are involved in the triggering of NK-mediated natural cytotoxicity. In general, their engagement induces human NK cells to kill target cells that are either HLA class I-negative or -deficient. Thus, the process of NK cell triggering mediated by Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors can be mainly considered as a non MHC-restricted mechanism. Here, a brief description of the molecular nature of these receptors, as well as, of their 3D-structures and of the implications for ligand recognition, is given.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy. robertobiassoni@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biassoni
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giron-Michel
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dimasi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D005810:Multigene Family; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D037102:Lectins; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; C112837:NCR2 protein, human; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D055629:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; C402206:SIGLEC7 protein, human