The enigma of the natural killer cell
- 1 November 1995
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Nature in Nature
- Vol. 378 (6554), 245-248
- https://doi.org/10.1038/378245a0
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are controlled by receptors specific for polymorphic determinants of class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The contrasting properties of NK and cytotoxic T cell (CTL) class I receptors provide complementarity in the cytolytic lymphocyte response to viruses, tumours and transplants. Whereas human NK cell class I receptors consist of immunoglobulin domains, their mouse counterparts resemble C-type lee-tins. This difference may reflect the receptors' diverse and rapidly evolving class I ligands.Keywords
This publication has 87 references indexed in Scilit:
- The rise and fall of great class I genesSeminars in Immunology, 1994
- Specificity of HLA class I antigen recognition by human NK clones: evidence for clonal heterogeneity, protection by self and non-self alleles, and influence of the target cell type.The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1993
- NK cells and T cells: mirror images?Immunology Today, 1992
- NKR-P1, a Signal Transduction Molecule on Natural Killer CellsScience, 1990
- STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND DIVERSITY OF CLASS I MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX MOLECULESAnnual Review of Biochemistry, 1990
- In search of the ‘missing self’: MHC molecules and NK cell recognitionImmunology Today, 1990
- Pattern of nucleotide substitution at major histocompatibility complex class I loci reveals overdominant selectionNature, 1988
- T-cell antigen receptor genes and T-cell recognitionNature, 1988
- Mechanism of Cytotoxicity by Natural Killer (NK) CellsAnnual Review of Immunology, 1986
- Natural Killer Cells: Their Roles in Defenses Against DiseaseScience, 1981