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. 2018 Feb 12;9:231. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00231

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Visual summary of immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects of natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) ligand expression by cells of the immune system. (A) The immunostimulatory effects of NKG2D ligand expression by immune cells. (1) NKG2D ligand expression by dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages provides activating and differentiation signals to NKG2D-bearing natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. (2) Expression of NKG2D ligand by regulatory T cells (Tregs) targets these cells for killing by NK cells, thereby increasing the overall immune response. (3) NKG2D ligand expression may affect B cell cytokine production. (B) The immunosuppressive effects of NKG2D ligand expression by immune cells. (1) Widespread expression of NKG2D ligands by DCs or macrophages causes internalization of NKG2D, impairing NKG2D-mediated immune activation. (2) NKG2D ligand-bearing immune cells are directly targeted for killing by autologous NKG2D-bearing NK and T cells. (3) NKG2D–ligand interaction during CTL generation may decrease CTL cytokine production.