Figure 7. Model for trogocytosis mediated hyporesponsiveness of NK cells.
The m157 acquired by the NK cells is expressed on its cell surface as a GPI-linked protein. The interaction of m157 with Ly49H results in (1) blocking of the Ly49H receptor on the NK cell which prevents its recognition of m157 expressing targets and (2) provides a mechanism for the continuous engagement of the Ly49H activating receptor which results in the induction of a hyporesponsiveness of the NK cell to stimulation through other activating receptors.