Biomaterial Database

Natural killer cells and their receptors. 2002

Derek Middleton, and Martin Curran, and Lynne Maxwell

Northern Ireland Regional Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK. derek.middleton@bll.n-i.nhs.uk

Natural killer (NK) cells have been known for a long time to be a very important component of the innate immune system. However, it is only during the last 10 years that knowledge of their receptors has emerged. Described in the present review are those receptor families killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) (belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily), and killer lectin like receptor (KLR) CD94/NKG2, that both use HLA as a ligand and have inhibiting and activating types of receptors, and natural cytotoxic receptors (NCR) which do not associate with HLA. Association of the receptor gives rise to either an inhibiting or activating signal leading to either failure or success in lysing a target cell. The KIR receptors are very polymorphic both in the number of genes expressed in an individual and the alleles present for a gene. They would appear to have had a rapid evolution compared to the CD94/NKG2 receptors. The roles that NK cells and their receptors have with various facets of transplantation, disease, pregnancy and control of virus infection in humans are described.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007694	Killer Cells, Natural	Bone marrow-derived lymphocytes that possess cytotoxic properties, classically directed against transformed and virus-infected cells. Unlike T CELLS; and B CELLS; NK CELLS are not antigen specific. The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells is determined by the collective signaling of an array of inhibitory and stimulatory CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS. A subset of T-LYMPHOCYTES referred to as NATURAL KILLER T CELLS shares some of the properties of this cell type.	NK Cells,Natural Killer Cells,Cell, NK,Cell, Natural Killer,Cells, NK,Cells, Natural Killer,Killer Cell, Natural,NK Cell,Natural Killer Cell
D008024	Ligands	A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Ligand
D008213	Lymphocyte Activation	Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION.	Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D011971	Receptors, Immunologic	Cell surface molecules on cells of the immune system that specifically bind surface molecules or messenger molecules and trigger changes in the behavior of cells. Although these receptors were first identified in the immune system, many have important functions elsewhere.	Immunologic Receptors,Immunologic Receptor,Immunological Receptors,Receptor, Immunologic,Receptors, Immunological
D002888	Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19	A specific pair of GROUP F CHROMOSOMES of the human chromosome classification.	Chromosome 19
D003602	Cytotoxicity, Immunologic	The phenomenon of target cell destruction by immunologically active effector cells. It may be brought about directly by sensitized T-lymphocytes or by lymphoid or myeloid "killer" cells, or it may be mediated by cytotoxic antibody, cytotoxic factor released by lymphoid cells, or complement.	Tumoricidal Activity, Immunologic,Immunologic Cytotoxicity,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activities,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activity,Tumoricidal Activities, Immunologic
D005260	Female		Females