1nkr

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Abnormal cells deficient in class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression are lysed by a class of lymphocytes called natural killer (NK) cells. This lysis provides a defence against pathogens and tumour cells that downregulate MHC expression to avoid an MHC-restricted, T-cell immune response. Normal cells escape lysis because their MHC molecules are recognized by NK-cell inhibitory receptors, which inhibit lysis. Several such inhibitory receptor families have been described in humans and mice. In the human killer-cell inhibitory receptor family, individual p58 members are specific for a subset of class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C molecules. The human p58 natural killer-cell inhibitory receptor clone 42 recognizes HLA-Cw4, -Cw2 and -Cw6, but not HLA-Cw3, -Cw2, -Cw7 or -Cw8, which are recognized by p58 killer-cell inhibitor receptor clone 43. We have determined the X-ray structure of the p58 NK-cell inhibitory receptor clone 42 at 1.7-A resolution. The structure has tandem immunoglobulin-like domains positioned at an acute, 60-degree angle. Loops on the outside of the elbow between the domains form a binding site projected away from the NK-cell surface. The topology of the domains and their arrangement relative to each other reveal a relationship to the haematopoietic receptor family, with implications for the signalling mechanism in NK cells.

Structure of the inhibitory receptor for human natural killer cells resembles haematopoietic receptors.,Fan QR, Mosyak L, Winter CC, Wagtmann N, Long EO, Wiley DC Nature. 1997 Sep 4;389(6646):96-100. PMID:9288975^[2]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.