The NKG2D receptor and its ligands-recognition beyond the "missing self"?

Microbes Infect. 2003 Jan;5(1):31-7. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(02)00057-6.

Abstract

NKG2D is a surface receptor that activates natural killer (NK) cells and delivers a co-stimulatory signal to CD8-positive T cells. The ligands of NKG2D are induced by cellular stress and are specifically expressed by some tumor cells. This sparked the idea of an alternative regulation of NK cells by expression of "induced self" ligands on target cells which can overcome the inhibition imparted by MHC class I-specific inhibitory receptors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • KLRK1 protein, human
  • Klrk1 protein, mouse
  • Ligands
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Natural Killer Cell