Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are an essential component of the innate immunity toward tumors and virally infected cells. The function of NK cells is regulated by a precise balance between inhibitory and activating signals. These signals are mediated by NK cell receptors that bind either classical MHC class I molecules or their structural relatives such as MICA, ULBP, RAE-1, and H-60. Two separate families of NK cell receptors have been identified: the immunoglobulin-like family (KIR, LIR) and C-type lectin-like family (Ly49, NKG2D, and CD94/NKG2). Here we summarize the structure of Ly49 C-type lectin-like proteins hitherto solved (Ly49A, Ly49C and Ly49I) and their interaction with MHC class I molecules as determined by the co-crystal structure of Ly49A/H-2Dd and Ly49C/H-2Kb.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 95-104 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Immunologic Research |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- Crystal structure
- Immunoreceptors
- Inhibitory receptors
- Ly49
- Ly49/MHC complex
- MHC
- Natural killer (NK)
- NK Receptors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology