title: Variable NK cell receptors and their MHC class I ligands in immunity, reproduction and human evolution.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells have roles in immunity and reproduction that are controlled by variable receptors that recognize MHC class I molecules. The variable NK cell receptors found in humans are specific to simian primates, in which they have progressively co-evolved with MHC class I molecules. The emergence of the MHC-C gene in hominids drove the evolution of a system of NK cell receptors for MHC-C molecules that is most elaborate in chimpanzees. By contrast, the human system of MHC-C receptors seems to have been subject to different selection pressures that have acted in competition on the immunological and reproductive functions of MHC class I molecules. We suggest that this compromise facilitated the development of the bigger brains that enabled archaic and modern humans to migrate out of Africa and populate other continents.
authors: Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. peropa@stanford.edu
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Parham
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Moffett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006239:Haplotypes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011485:Protein Binding; D055550:Protein Stability; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell