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      Activating and inhibitory receptors of natural killer cells.

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          Abstract

          Natural killer (NK) cells are potent immune effector cells that can respond to infection and cancer, as well as allowing maternal adaptation to pregnancy. In response to malignant transformation or pathogenic invasion, NK cells can secrete cytokine and may be directly cytolytic, as well as exerting effects indirectly through other cells of the immune system. To recognize and respond to inflamed or infected tissues, NK cells express a variety of activating and inhibitory receptors including NKG2D, Ly49 or KIR, CD94-NKG2 heterodimers and natural cytotoxicity receptors, as well as co-stimulatory receptors. These receptors recognize cellular stress ligands as well as major histocompatibility complex class I and related molecules, which can lead to NK cell responses. Importantly, NK cells must remain tolerant of healthy tissue, and some of these receptors can also prevent activation of NK cells. In this review, we describe the expression of prominent NK cell receptors, as well as expression of their ligands and their role in immune responses. In addition, we describe the main signaling pathways used by NK cell receptors. Although we now appreciate that NK cell biology is more complicated than first thought, there are still facets of their biology that remain unclear. These will be highlighted and discussed in this review.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Immunol Cell Biol
          Immunology and cell biology
          Springer Science and Business Media LLC
          1440-1711
          0818-9641
          Feb 2011
          : 89
          : 2
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Cancer Immunology Research Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. michael.kershaw@petermac.org
          Article
          icb201078
          10.1038/icb.2010.78
          20567250
          4c20cd6b-e82a-4337-b451-7cc17b89a185
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