title: NKG2D and DNAM-1 activating receptors and their ligands in NK-T cell interactions: role in the NK cell-mediated negative regulation of T cell responses.
abstract: The negative regulation of adaptive immunity is relevant to maintain lymphocyte homeostasis. Several studies on natural killer (NK) cells have shown a previously unappreciated immunomodulatory role, as they can negatively regulate T cell-mediated immune responses by direct killing and by secretion of inhibitory cytokines. The molecular mechanisms of T cell suppression by NK cells, however, remained elusive. Only in the last few years has it become evident that, upon activation, human T cells express MICA-B, ULBP1-3, and PVR, ligands of the activating receptors NKG2D and DNAM-1, respectively. Their expression renders T cells targets of NK cell lysis, representing a new mechanism taking part to the negative regulation of T cell responses. Studies on the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligands on T cells have also contributed in understanding that the activation of ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated)/ATR (ATM/Rad3-related) kinases and the DNA damage response is a common pathway regulating the expression of activating ligands in different types of cells and under different conditions. The functional consequences of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligand expression on activated T cells are discussed in the context of physiologic and pathologic processes such as infections, autoimmunity, and graft versus host disease.
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Zingoni
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Ardolino
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Santoni
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Cerboni
keywords: DNA damage response; DNAM-1 ligands; NKG2D ligands; NK–T cell cross-talk; cell proliferation