Natural killer receptors: the burden of a name.
A population of cells that expresses the NK cell receptor NKp46 and produces interleukin (IL)-22 have recently attracted considerable attention. The identity of these cells is still the subject of speculation, being variably defined as a novel NK cell subset or as a population containing conventional NK (cNK) cell precursors. In this issue, two studies shed light on this conundrum, demonstrating that NKp46(+) IL-22(+) cells and cNK cells belong to distinct lineages.
Veiga-Fernandes
Henrique
H
Immunobiology Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal. jhfernandes@fm.ul.pt
Kioussis
Dimitris
D
Coles
Mark
M
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000097043:Interleukin-22
D007378:Interleukins; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D000097043:Interleukin-22; C539901:Rorc protein, mouse