title: Extending killer Ig-like receptor function: from HLA class I recognition to sensors of microbial products.
abstract: Killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs) are human natural killer (NK) receptors that recognize allotypic determinants of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I. Inhibitory KIRs discriminate normal cells from tumour or virus-infected cells that have lost or reduced HLA class I expression. Donor NK cell "alloeffector" responses are exploited in haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat leukaemia. NK cells also express several toll-like receptors (TLRs) that increase NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine release in response to ligands. Surprisingly, KIR3DL2 binds the TLR ligand CpG-oligodexynucleotides, and together, they are co-internalized and translocated to TLR9-rich early endosomes. This novel KIR-associated function offers clues to understanding the NK cell response to microbial infection, and extends the role played by KIRs in immune defence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivori
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
mesh_terms: D018899:CpG Islands; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D054340:Receptors, KIR