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. 2007 May 1;7(4):376–387. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2003.tb00240.x

Human Natural Killer cell receptors: insights into their molecular function and structure

R Biassoni 1,✉, Claudia Cantoni 1,2,3, D Marras 1,2, J Giron‐Michel 1, Michela Falco 1, L Moretta 1,2,3, N Dimasi 1
PMCID: PMC6740120  PMID: 14754506

Abstract

NK cells express receptors characterized by opposite functions that finely regulate their activities. Among inhibitory receptors, some are specific for different groups of MHC class I alleles, while others are still orphan receptors. On the contrary, various activating receptors are involved in the triggering of NK‐mediated natural cytotoxicity. In general, their engagement induces human NK cells to kill target cells that are either HLA class I‐negative or ‐deficient. Thus, the process of NK cell triggering mediated by Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors can be mainly considered as a non MHC‐restricted mechanism. Here, a brief description of the molecular nature of these receptors, as well as, of their 3D‐structures and of the implications for ligand recognition, is given.

Keywords: Natural Killer (NK), Leucocyte Ig‐like Receptor Complex (LRC), Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors (NCRs), MHC, Inhibitory Receptors, Immunoglobulin Superfamily (Ig‐SF), Crystal Structure, Activating Receptors, Sialic acid‐binding Ig‐like lectin (Siglec)

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